Verulam family mourns husband who died while collecting water
The family of a Verulam man who died while collecting water from a borehole believes if the water issue was sorted out months ago he would still be alive.
Junaid Naidoo suffered a heart attack on Sunday.
The 52-year-old from Trenance Park has been described as a dedicated family man who unfailingly collected water every morning for his family.
His brother, Sagie says they would usually go to fetch water together, but on that that day, Naidoo had gone ahead of him.
He found him lying on the ground.
"I was shocked and didn't know what to do. I don't know CPR and I didn't take my phone with me so I couldn't contact anybody. I had to drive back home and take my wife and within a few minutes we tried CPR and he was on the floor and there was no response."
Naidoo's wife, Rizwana says she and her three children are heartbroken.
"I can't get him back anymore and the worst is that imagine seeing your dad Saturday and Sunday you are waking up to see his dead body, because that is what my children saw. My son had to give him a bath and go into the grave. My son said 'Mommy you don't know how I am feeling, I had to go into the grave, it is six feet down.' My son asked me 'How do I forget that' What answer do you give a 15-year-old child?"
Parts of Verulam, north of Durban have been relying on water tankers and boreholes for supply.
Community leaders have protested, written letters to human rights organizations, and marched to City Hall to deliver a memorandum.
The DA's Chris Pappas visited Naidoo's family on Friday, and said the death of a 52-year-old man could've been avoided if there was running water in Verulam.
Pappas, who is the party's premier candidate for KZN, said there have been similar tragedies linked to the non-provision of basic services.
"This is the state of our country, we are fighting and dying over basic human rights. It is unfair and not necessary. We have leaders who are profiting off the suffering of people in different communities. It has to end, we have to restore control and some sense of normality to our communities."
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