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Clashes Erupt in Phoenix Over Water Crisis: Residents and Police in Standoff

Published January 30, 2024
10 months ago

In a scene fraught with tension and unrest, the Phoenix community in north of Durban faced off against law enforcement officials in a protest borne out of frustration over continued water and electricity service disruptions. The recent demonstration, organized by the Voice of Phoenix, started peacefully but rapidly escalated as the South African Police Service's Public Order Policing (SAPS POP) contingent moved in.


According to Pastor Mervin Reddy, spokesperson for the Voice of Phoenix, the protest took a violent turn when police attempted to disperse crowds along Phoenix Highway, leading to the use of teargas and rubber bullets. The escalation resulted in injuries to numerous residents, including children, with at least two individuals requiring hospital treatment – a woman shot in the face and a man in the leg.


Claims of police brutality surfaced, with a protester alleging that a policeman used a shield to strike him, knocking out his teeth. The situation intensified at the corner of Eastbury Road and Phoenix Highway, where tensions between the authorities and protesters peaked.


KZN police spokesperson Lt-Col Nqobile Gwala confirmed the arrest of three individuals for public violence, noting that one of them was additionally charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.


Residents closed off multiple entry and exit points to Phoenix during the demonstration, parking vehicles to obstruct roads as they called for the eThekwini Municipality to address the chronic water and electricity issues plaguing their community. The municipality's lack of prompt notification concerning service outages further exacerbated the situation, leaving many without essential utilities during festive periods, causing an uproar among the affected communities.


The joint statement from eThekwini Municipality, uMngeni-Uthukela Water, and the national department of water and sanitation acknowledged the disruptions in the area, attributing them to an underperforming old northern aqueduct. They cited ongoing work on a new aqueduct, with initial commissioning scheduled for mid-February, in addition to interim measures to improve the current system's performance.


The Phoenix residents, vocal about their plight, have demanded swift and decisive action from both local and national governments. Expressing disillusionment with the local political response, they emphasized their need for reliable water and electricity, criticizing the ANC and local DA councillor for perceived inaction.


As the community grapples with what they describe as a humanitarian crisis, the crux of their grievance is clear: access to dependable water and electricity services—a fundamental right for every citizen.



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