Residents of Blinkbonnie Road in Bonela say they have been living with a damaged road and a persistent water leak for about three months, raising concerns about safety, sanitation and the pace of municipal repairs.
Residents said an attempt was made to address the problem, but the road was subsequently left excavated, with one lane closed to motorists. They said water continues to flow along the road on a daily basis.
Residents believe the water may be sewage and have raised concerns about possible health risks, particularly because children play in the area. They also said pedestrians have limited space to move safely when vehicles pass through the remaining lane.
The Springfield Weekly Gazette visited Blinkbonnie Road and observed water flowing along the affected section of the road and excavation work that had not been completed. During the visit, an eThekwini Municipality roads and sanitation truck passed the area but did not stop at the affected section.
Ward 30 councillor Warren Burne said the condition of the road raised broader concerns about municipal service delivery in the area.
“Here is a cavity in the middle of Blinkbonnie Road, showing not only the neglected repairs, but the water pouring down the road, which I suspect is sewer water,” Burne said.
Burne also raised concerns about services in the nearby Nkanini informal settlement, saying the settlement was established after 2016 and that residents do not have formal sewage, electricity and water services.
“It’s a demonstration of a complete breakdown of municipal governance,” he said. Burne further raised concerns about electricity supply in the formal housing area of Blinkbonnie Road, which he said was affected by what he described as illegal connections.
The comments come against the backdrop of recent assurances from eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba that municipal teams are on the ground addressing sewer problems and water leaks across the city.
However, residents in Bonela say their experience has been that some problems reported months ago remain unresolved.
With less than 30 days before the 4 November local government elections, service delivery remains a prominent concern for communities across eThekwini, while political parties campaign on promises to improve municipal services and bring about change.
For Blinkbonnie Road residents, the immediate concern is the completion of the outstanding work and clarity on the source of the water flowing along the road.
The municipality had not, at the time of publication, provided a response on the specific Blinkbonnie Road repairs or confirmed whether the water observed was sewage.
