BY: Vuyo Cebekhulu
A significant water outage has affected several homes in Ezindophi Reserve, Eshowe, leaving residents without access to running water since May 2024. The disruption has caused considerable inconvenience, with many households struggling to cope with the lack of essential services.
Ward 13 Councilor Ngema was contacted about the water outage and was informed that some houses have been without water since May. He has promised the residents that the issue will be addressed.
The water outage does not affect the entire community of Ezindophi but impacts certain homes. These households have reported low water pressure or a complete lack of water supply. Many residents have expressed frustration over the sudden disruption.
“We now have to buy bottled water for drinking and cooking, and it is hard to manage daily chores,” said Thuli Ngema, a local homeowner in Ezindophi.
“We have to travel with wheelbarrows or borrow one so that we can carry buckets and water drums to nearby houses that have access to water. It makes it easier to bring water to our homes,” said Nhlanhla Ngema.
The Induna (community leader), Mr. Muntukabani Luthuli, commented that he has been trying to contact the water suppliers to send tanker trucks to supply the area with water. He mentioned that the councilor is unresponsive to his calls, even though addressing this issue is part of his responsibilities.
Community members expect the councilor to arrange for repairs and ensure the water service is fully restored. They have even sent him videos and pictures of the damaged pipeline affecting the water supply.
Water tanker trucks have been deployed to ensure a continuous supply until the pipeline repairs are completed. These trucks are scheduled to deliver water every two weeks until the pipeline is fixed and residents have full access to water.
Local businesses, particularly those in the hospitality sector, have also been severely impacted. “Our operations depend heavily on a steady water supply, and this outage is severely affecting us. We are doing our best to accommodate our customers, but it is a tough situation,” said Grace Nkuna, owner of Nkuna Superstore.
