Durban Residents Overturn Councillor’s Mobile Office

Residents of eNkanini, an informal settlement near Durban, overturned their ward councillor’s mobile office on Friday. The protest involved over 200 people who had gathered for three hours, demanding to speak with their elected official.

The community, comprising more than 900 households originally from Mayville and Cato Crest, has lived without basic services since 2017. A key demand includes the installation of speed bumps on the road passing their settlement. This demand follows the tragic death of a child who was hit by a car last year.

Community members expressed deep frustration with their councillor’s response. “We will fight up until Jesus comes back, because the councillor doesn’t help us with anything … We voted for him to bring services to our area, not problems,” said resident Nompilo Ngubani. Community leader Thobekile Ndovela echoed these sentiments about the ward councillor.

Councillor’s Response and Ongoing Issues

Ward Councillor Warren Burne of the DA confirmed the incident. He stated he received a call about the picket and was preparing to attend when police advised him against it due to the angry crowd that had overturned his portable office.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

Councillor Burne acknowledged the severe lack of services in eNkanini, confirming the area needs tap water, electricity, and sewers. He reported that the department of human settlements has enumerated households, which is a preparatory step for installing electricity in the area. The community’s actions highlight the ongoing tensions between residents and their ward councillor over the delayed service delivery.