Residents of Imbali in Pietermaritzburg are calling on the Msunduzi Municipality to urgently address ongoing water and electricity failures that continue to disrupt daily life.
Community members took to the streets a few weeks ago in protest, demanding answers, but say the situation remains largely unchanged with persistent water shedding still in effect.
One resident described the severe impact of the unreliable water supply. Water is typically available only from around 4 AM until about 10 AM, after which it is cut off. In some periods, supplies have been absent for two to three weeks. Residents often wake up early to collect and store water in containers.
Electricity problems are also acute, with frequent transformer failures, especially in Ward 13. The resident noted that a single transformer serves a large number of households, leading to repeated overloads and outages.
Beyond service delivery, the resident highlighted broader frustrations, including high unemployment contributing to social issues such as alcohol abuse among the youth. Strong criticism was directed at local councillors for alleged nepotism in job opportunities and failing to adequately represent the community.
The resident stressed that many in the area remain ANC supporters and have not switched political allegiance, but are deeply dissatisfied with the lack of basic services. The community is not calling for political mobilisation but for practical interventions: reliable water and electricity supply, job creation, and proper maintenance of infrastructure.
Residents are appealing directly to the municipality and councillors to resolve these long-standing issues. No response from the Msunduzi Municipality had been received at the time of reporting.
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