Phoenix residents blocked off all entry points to the Durban suburb in a shutdown against the eThekwini Municipality’s failure to provide consistent service delivery.
Phoenix shutdown: Why are residents protesting?
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Spearheaded by the community group Voice of Phoenix (VOP), disgruntled residents, taking a note from Verulam, drew the attention of public order police with blockades on the suburb’s busiest routes.
The VOP, in a recent statement, expressed their understanding and sympathy for the daily sufferings in the community, emphasising the havoc caused by constant water and electrical disruptions.
“We will be facilitating a peaceful protest on your behalf per your request,” the group stated.
The planned protest is a response to the residents’ frustrations, as voiced by the VOP:
“The eThekwini Municipality must realise how important the Phoenix community is as taxpayers in the public and private sector.”
The group made a special appeal to the younger generation to participate while urging senior citizens to stay home to avoid stress or pressure.
The memorandum issued by VOP to the eThekwini Municipality outlines specific demands. These include an immediate addressing of water outages, a 24-hour turnaround time for water and electrical repairs, adequate notification and servicing during disruptions, reversal of billing errors, and fair meter readings.
Furthermore, they call for a revisit of municipal by-laws concerning rates and property values and demand competent oversight of contractors appointed for repairs.
Motorists not partaking in the Phoenix shutdown should avoid these routes:
No. | Intersection | Ward/District | Official |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Trade Centre robot | Ward 48/49 | Nandha, Louis, Malusha |
2. | Palmview/Ottawa/Cornubia robot | Ward 50/51 | Pastor Mervyn & team |
3. | Spine Rd. Old Phoenix robot | Ward 48 | Nehru & CPF Val |
4. | Southgate/Broadlands robot | Ward 48 | Nehru & CPF Val |
5. | Unit 10 corner, Ferndale combine school robot | Ward 52 | Pastor Dickson |
6. | Gandhi Park / Homebase Hardware robot | Ward 48/49/52 | Mr Rich |