Richards Bay residents threaten legal action over coal dust and water crisis
Residents want the railway restored to reduce coal trucks and say water infrastructure failures are worsening supply problems.
Residents in Richards Bay say they are considering legal action and possible protests over coal dust pollution, water shortages and failing municipal infrastructure.
The Concerned Residents Civic Association held a public meeting last week.
Residents raised concerns about what they describe as increasing coal dust from trucks transporting coal to the port.
The association’s Jéan Gerber says residents are calling for the railway to be restored to reduce the number of coal trucks on the roads.
Water shortages persist
Residents also raised concerns about water shortages, with Gerber saying only two of more than 50 water pump stations are working.
He says they plan to give the City of uMhlathuze and other stakeholders a deadline to respond.
“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.
“And unfortunately, our late deputy mayor, Christo Botha, passed on, but before his passing, we had a lot of discussions as to why things like streetlights aren't working.”
The City of uMhlathuze has acknowledged that ageing and poorly maintained water infrastructure is affecting supply.
It says more than R30 million has been set aside to refurbish Lake Mzingazi, while a new contractor is completing the water package plant in eSikhaleni.
On coal trucks, the municipality says work on the Eyamakhosi truck stop is underway and is expected to help address the issue.
It has declined to comment on possible legal action but says it is working with police to address the theft of electricity infrastructure and urges residents to report faulty streetlights.
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