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Tensions Flare in Phoenix: Residents Clash with Police During Water Crisis Protest

Published January 31, 2024
9 months ago

A service delivery protest over the ongoing water crisis in Phoenix, north of Durban, intensified to a troubling confrontation between law enforcement and frustrated residents on Monday. Community organization Voice of Phoenix had organized a peaceful protest to address the continuous water and electricity disruptions plaguing the community.


According to Pastor Mervin Reddy, spokesperson for Voice of Phoenix, the incident escalated when the South African Police Service’s Public Order Policing (SAPS POP) attempted to disperse the protesters along Phoenix Highway. The community, which had been enduring intermittent water outages without prior notice from city officials, felt compelled to take a stand. Some residents reported experiencing water cuts from early morning till the next, including on significant holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Eve. This marked a heightening of tensions in what Reddy described as a "humanitarian crisis".


The clash led to several protesters sustaining injuries, with at least two admitted to the hospital. Among them, a woman was reportedly shot in the face with a rubber bullet, and a man was shot in the back. Allegations of excessive police force included an account of an individual claiming that a policeman knocked his teeth out with a shield.


Lt-Col Nqobile Gwala, KZN police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest of three individuals on charges related to public violence. The oldest, aged 50, was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.


Residents had earlier blocked six entry and exit points to Phoenix by parking vehicles across the roads as a form of protest. Their demands were clear; they called upon the municipality to promptly address the utility faults, setting a 24-hour timeframe for repairs to be carried out.


In defense of the community's actions, Vincent Pillay, a Phoenix resident, shared how police pursued protesters from the intersection of the M41 and Phoenix Highway to Eastbury Drive. The protest, which started as a peaceful gathering with active emergency services, morphed into a scene of chaos following the firing of rubber bullets and release of tear gas by the police.


Responding to the unrest, eThekwini municipality, in conjunction with uMngeni-Uthukela Water and the national Department of Water and Sanitation, issued a statement acknowledging the disruptions in service. They pointed to performance issues with the old northern aqueduct and announced the commissioning of a new northern aqueduct intended as a permanent solution. This is scheduled for February 15, while other efforts to improve service, like reducing leaks and replacing air valves, are expected to conclude by the second week of February.


The protests in Phoenix mirror a broader issue of service delivery within South Africa, bringing into focus the residents’ outcry for reliable access to basic amenities. The municipality's pledge to resolve the issues comes as a reassurance, but for the people of Phoenix, immediate action cannot come soon enough.



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