Pictures by Anna Selmeczi.

Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement.

MAIN PIPE THAT SUPPLIES WATER BURST IN KWA-MASHU K SECTION

Early this morning at 1:05am, 20 October 2010, the main pipe that supplies water burst at KwaMashu K section. Mean while others watched their properties, concrete wall being washed away, houses and cars get damaged, furniture’s, food and clothes were drawn away by the big flash of water that flows through inside their homes.

Not only the affected community members felt this pain but even their neighbour suffers, through the cuts of bottle while helping those who had this incident. Calls for help were made to everyone including, eThekwini Municipality, KwaMashu Police, Ward 41 Councillor Mr Linda Denzel Xaba, Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement S.A, but sadly none of the above responded beside Abahlali baseMjondolo. This incident left a big question to the community members, why they are not being assisted by those who were ought to work for the community. The community were worried what if someone died or was badly injured; automatically the same would have happened because it always been the case of lack of services being delivered by officials. What was more surprising is the Councillor of Ward 41 Mr Linda Denzel Xaba where he was called for several times and did not even pick up, also did not even pitch at the scene until now, the only hope came when the Abahlali baseMjondolo leadership came to see the damage.

Community members felt that the councillor failed them at the most important time where they needed him the most, not only if it was the first time where the very same councillor failed his people but on several occasions even if they are being evicted he does not do anything, community members decided that it time they joined Abahlali baseMjondolo so they can fight with them as they realised that, the current political leadership have neglected them and so they will need to organise and represent themselves.

Therefore we demand the following:

· We call upon the eThekwini Municipality to immediately address the problem by replacing those rotten pipes.

· We call upon the eThekwini municipality to replace all damaged property including the vehicle and houses that were destroyed by the floods of the burst pipes.

· We demand the eThekwini Municipality to compensate all families who lost their belongings and who were traumatised by these incidents.

· We also demand the Municipality to guarantee all residents that such incidents of this nature will never happen again.

· We also demand that, the ward councillor of ward 41 to provides the necessary services to the communities he serves timeously and with fairness to all residents in his ward.

For more information please contact:

Ms Bandile Mdlalose
Abahlali baseMjondolo Secretary General
031 304 6420
074 730 8120

Mr Mnikelo Ndabankulu
Abahlali baseMjondolo Public Liaison Officer
079 745 0653

Mrs Fikile Maphmulo
078 123 8468
Kwa Mashu K resident