Zikalala, La Mercy residents bury hatchet in water tanker spat

Zikalala came under fire earlier in the week after a widely circulated video shared showed a water tanker - meant for the public - parked outside his private residence in the north of Durban.

The video caused fury as the province tried to recover from devastating floods that left some residents without water and electricity for days on end.

Zikalala initially defended the incident but later apologised.

The La Mercy Ratepayers and Civic Association (LMRCA) and the community met with Zikalala again on Thursday.

"Both parties have agreed to move forward in the spirit of unity and in the greater interest of the community," says the association's chairperson Ravi Ramsundar.

"The association accepts that the direct representative, the councillor is the one who should constantly be held accountable for the current issues experienced by the residents and who has been conspicuously absent in dealing with community frustrations.

“Now that the parties understand each other’s version of events, the parties agree to improve communication amongst each other as residents and consider the matter settled and closed."

More than 400 people have been reported dead, while scores are believed to be unaccounted for.

The heavy rains also left key infrastructure ruined.

"The parties regret that the miscommunication has detracted the focus on the task at hand which is to holistically respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the flood disasters and focus on the rebuilding process. 

“In the spirit of unity and for the betterment of the lives of the residents, the focus in the coming days will be on the pressing issue of water, attending to the plight of the displaced, infrastructure rehabilitation and the rehabilitation of the M4," Ramsundar added.

"The LMRCA welcomes the pronouncement by the Premier on the toll road concession which has been tabled."