In a move to address ongoing water challenges, eThekwini Municipality announced that R2 million additional funding has been allocated to address water challenges in the North.
This announcement was made at the City's Executive Committee (EXCO) held on Tuesday.
"To address persistent water challenges affecting various areas in the northern parts of the City, particularly Verulam and surrounding areas, the Executive Committee has approved the transfer of R2 million within the water and sanitation capital budget in the 2024/25 financial year," the City said in a statement.
"The funds will be transferred from the Pinkney Park project to the Hazelmere to Grange Reservoir Pipeline project."
The City said work on the Hazelmere to Grange Reservoir Pipeline project came to a halt because money had run out.
It urgently requires an extra R2 million in financing to be completed during the current fiscal year.
"The additional allocation to complete the Hazelmere to Grange Reservoir Pipeline project will ensure much-needed relief to the communities in the northern parts of the City who have been experiencing water shortages.
"The water challenges have been further worsened by the recurring flood disasters that have battered the City in recent years."
The region's water woes are not new. In 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found that eThekwini Municipality was in violation of the right to access clean drinking water.
The SAHRC found that there were: "Systemic failures in water provisioning, and the violation of multiple human rights."
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