Richards Bay residents are preparing to take legal and protest action over what community leaders describe as escalating coal dust pollution, widespread water supply failures and deteriorating municipal services.
Community says coal trucks and failing infrastructure are choking the town
The Concerned Residents Civic Association held a public meeting last week where participants raised concerns about coal dust from trucks travelling to the port and a breakdown in water infrastructure that is leaving many areas with unreliable supply. Jéan Gerber of the association told attendees they want the railway restored to reduce heavy coal truck movements through residential areas.
“In regards to the maintenance of the infrastructure, this is obviously a municipal problem. As the civic association, we can only just apply more pressure on the municipality and start a class action lawsuit based on the Consumer Protection Act. I mean, we are paying for services which is not being rendered,” Gerber said, according to ECR Newswatch.
Gerber also drew attention to streetlights that are not working and a broader pattern of municipal infrastructure neglect. He said discussions on these issues had taken place with the late deputy mayor, Christo Botha, before his passing.
Municipality acknowledges problems, says R30 million set aside for Lake Mzingazi
The City of uMhlathuze has acknowledged that ageing and poorly maintained water infrastructure is affecting supply. The municipality told residents it has allocated more than R30 million to refurbish Lake Mzingazi, and that a new contractor is completing a water package plant in eSikhaleni.
On the coal-truck issue, the municipality said work on the Eyamakhosi truck stop is under way and is expected to help reduce truck movements through town. It declined to comment on the threatened legal action, but confirmed it is working with police to address theft of electricity infrastructure and urged residents to report faulty streetlights.
- Coal dust: Residents want the railway restored to reduce coal trucks transporting coal to the port.
- Water shortages: Only two of more than 50 water pump stations are reportedly working.
- Municipal response: R30 million earmarked to refurbish Lake Mzingazi; new contractor completing water package plant in eSikhaleni; Eyamakhosi truck stop construction in progress.
The civic association said it will give the municipality and other stakeholders a deadline to respond before proceeding with further action, including a possible class action under the Consumer Protection Act. The association’s complaint frames the matter as residents paying for municipal services that are not being rendered.
| Issue | Reported status |
|---|---|
| Water pump stations | Only 2 of >50 reportedly operational |
| Lake Mzingazi | Refurbishment with R30 million allocated |
| eSikhaleni water plant | New contractor completing water package plant |
| Coal truck traffic | Eyamakhosi truck stop under construction; residents call for rail restoration |
Residents’ growing impatience reflects wider concerns about municipal capacity and the impact of industrial traffic on quality of life. Restoring the rail link to the port has been presented by the civic association as a practical measure to cut the number of heavy trucks on local roads and reduce airborne coal dust that residents say is affecting homes and health.
The municipality’s acknowledgement of infrastructure problems and the targeted spending on water projects offer a partial response, but community leaders say the pace of repairs and concrete improvement to daily services will determine whether legal action proceeds.
The reporting of the meeting and the residents’ plans was carried by ECR Newswatch.
