The Challenges We Face in Bazley: Our Action Plan for Improvement
It is never pleasant to experience interruptions to utility services that we pay hard-earned money for. In Bazley, we are all too familiar with the ongoing issues that impact our daily lives, but Rory Jardim, our Vice Chairperson at the Bazley Residents Association, is committed to addressing these challenges head-on.
Eskom: Ongoing Power Struggles
We are all well aware of the current disappointing state of Eskom—far from ideal—and the ongoing electricity charges that continue to rise. In Bazley, we’ve had a few outages that were temporarily resolved in Bushbuck Ridge and Ridge Road. After escalating the matter through a previous KZN Eskom General Manager, Eskom came out and replaced some infrastructure in Bushbuck Ridge, but Ridge Road still remains unresolved. Rory Jardim continues to apply pressure on Eskom to ensure the repairs are done properly and the issues are fully addressed.
Water Supply: Heavy Rains and Ageing Infrastructure
The heavy rains we’ve experienced recently have led to the Mtwalume river flooding, which disrupted the submerged equipment at the Umgeni-managed Mtwalume Water Treatment Plant. As Umgeni Water is the bulk supplier, and UGU is responsible for the reservoirs and water pipe reticulation, we were faced with a five-day water outage due to the inability to pump water. In addition, it was discovered that the four pumps at the pump station are not adequately maintained, causing further delays. Eventually, three of the four pumps were restored, and shortly after, we faced two main pipe bursts in as many days.
The current water pipe infrastructure in Bazley is more than fifty years old and is showing signs of strain. A project to bring a new pipeline into Bazley is in the works, and more details are available here.
Umdoni Municipality: Struggling to Meet Expectations
The Umdoni Municipality continues to be a challenge when it comes to delivering the services that residents pay rates for. Erratic and unreliable refuse removal and skip replacement have become the norm. However, we have some positive news. A new contractor has been appointed for a five-month period to take care of verge and vegetation maintenance. His name is Christopher, and he has experience working in Bazley, so we’re hopeful for improvements in this area.
Support from Councilor Sthembiso Mthwane
We are fortunate to have the support of Councilor Sthembiso Mthwane, who advocates for us to the best of his ability and influence when it comes to issues with the Umdoni Municipality. His continued support remains invaluable as we work together to improve services in Bazley.
In conclusion, while we face ongoing challenges, Rory Jardim, our Vice Chairperson at the Bazley Residents Association, is actively pursuing solutions and applying pressure where needed. We will continue to keep you updated as progress is made on these issues and remain dedicated to improving the services and infrastructure in our community.
