24-07-2025
DA takes eThekwini Municipality to High Court over sewage crisis
PERSISTENT sewerage blockages that have plagued many communities in the south of Durban have not yet been addressed through legal action, until now. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is now taking eThekwini Municipality to court over the sewage crisis.
Many communities on The Bluff, Wentworth, Merebank and Montclair have been complaining about unmaintained sewerage drains that result in sewage blockages.
The DA approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court to compel the municipality to account for the state of the service delivery in the city.
Also read: Bluff Residents and Ratepayers Association launch drive to beautify Bluff Showgrounds
Today the DA is holding a protest outside court that is led by the Provincial Leader, Francois Rodgers MPL, provincial chairperson Dean Macpherson MP and DA eThekwini caucus leader and councillor Thabani Mthethwa. The matter will be heard in court for two days – today and tomorrow (July 24 and 25).
Provincial communications co-ordinator Nqobile Nhleko said in a statement, 'Our case centers on the inability of the ANC-IFP-EFF run municipality to effectively and adequately implement a turnaround plan to fix the infrastructure of the municipality, ensure enough financial resources are allocated to it and adhere to environmental directives by both national and provincial government.'
Nhleko said the residents and businesses have borne the brunt of this failure, while the DA has been the only party that has vigorously and enthusiastically driven this issue from day one.
'We have been on the ground with the people of the municipality to ensure victory is achieved on their behalf.
'When our arguments are presented to the court compared to other interested parties, there will be light and day between our well researched, fact-based litigation by our all-star legal team compared to other substandard legal teams who will attempt to put on a 'show' in the desperate need to be seen to be doing something,' Nhleko added.
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