November has been a challenging month – but also a reminder of what happens when a community refuses to give up.
For many residents, this month will be remembered not for year-end rush or festive planning, but for the nights when our homes filled with smoke. The air pollution issue has become our most urgent concern, because when you can’t breathe comfortably in your own home, everything else feels secondary.
This post is a look at what we’ve faced, what’s improved, and how we’re moving forward together.
1. The Air We Breathe: Our Shared Priority
For months, residents have been reporting the burning of dirt and rubbish at night. The result is thick, toxic smoke drifting into our homes while families are trying to sleep. Many have said clearly: this is untenable.
As a community, we haven’t taken this lying down:
- We’ve raised the issue with local, provincial and national structures.
- We’ve involved the media.
- We’ve logged complaints and used every formal channel available.
While municipal response has been slow and, in many cases, silent, we are not stopping.
We’ve now connected with community groups in Malvern and Hillary so that our voices are combined and amplified. This isn’t just about smoke – it’s about health, dignity and the right to live in a safe environment. When communities stand together, it becomes much harder to ignore them.
2. Infrastructure: Progress, Patience and Persistence
Even as air pollution dominates our attention, other important issues remain on our agenda.
Challinor Sewer Pipe
The sewer pipe in Challinor still needs a proper inspection so that we can finally close this chapter. We’re waiting on the Parks & Recreation Department to clear the bushes so that the area is accessible for inspection and repairs.
This is a good example of where persistence matters – we know it’s on the list, and we will keep it there until it’s resolved.
River & Sewer Infrastructure
Upstream, we’re finally seeing some promising work:
- New infrastructure pipes are being laid where floods damaged existing lines.
- This looks like a longer-term solution, not just a temporary patch.
A heartfelt thank you to our Eco Warriors, Cara and Henry, who walk, observe, photograph and report back. Their eyes and feet on the ground help the rest of us understand what’s happening and respond with clarity, not guesswork.
Road Excavations and Tarring
We can also celebrate real progress here:
- Almost all previous excavations have been tarred, improving safety and the look of our streets.
- Only three sites remain, where spoil still needs to be removed.
These may seem like small wins, but every repaired road, every closed trench, is a visible sign that persistence pays off. And as always – we’re on it to get the last few sorted.
3. Electricity, Water and a Substation Stuck in 1956
In November we experienced:
- 4 electricity disruptions
- 3 water outages
The encouraging part? Response times were noticeably better than in previous months. Instead of being without water for more than 24 hours, residents saw many issues resolved within hours. That’s a positive shift, and it shows that consistent escalation and tracking does make a difference.
We are also:
- Awaiting feedback from the Communications Department on our asbestos-to-PVC pipe replacement project request.
- Keeping an eye on the newly laid and commissioned secondary power cable from Seaview, which strengthens our supply.
Of course, one major concern remains: our 1956 substation.
This ageing infrastructure is at the heart of many of our power problems. Fixing it properly will take:
- Planning
- Budget
- Commitment from the municipality
We can’t solve that overnight – but we can keep it on the agenda, backed by data, incidents logged and a united community voice.
4. Holding Vodacom (and Others) to a Higher Standard
This month also brought some important lessons about how we engage with service providers.
During Vodacom’s fibre rollout, there were sections where trenching and reinstatement were simply not up to standard. Instead of accepting it, our community engaged, questioned and pushed for better.
We made it clear that:
- Work must be done properly, not just quickly.
- Trenches and verges must be neatly restored.
- Residents and their properties must be treated with respect.
The message going forward is simple:
👉 Any provider who trenches in our area will be held to a higher standard.
If you dig here, you fix here – properly. Our neighbourhood isn’t just a work site; it’s our home.
5. Scouts Hall: Caring for Our Heritage
The Scouts Hall project is now with the Problem Buildings Department of eThekwini.
We’ve requested written confirmation of ownership because:
- Records show the lease between eThekwini and the KZN Scouts Region was terminated in 2007.
- Yet there is still confusion, with some believing the building is privately owned.
We’re working with the municipality to clarify this and build a pathway forward. Our goal is to see this building move from abandoned and condemned to restored and used – a space that serves young people and the wider community again.
6. Sinkholes, Streets and Visible Improvements
On the brighter side:
- The sinkhole at Woodlands and Mervyn has been attended to.
- Limber Road is looking much better, and we’d like to keep it that way.
Every time something gets fixed, it’s a reminder that reporting, following up and working together does work. These improvements belong to all of us.
7. POPI, WhatsApp and Respecting Each Other’s Privacy
So much of our community coordination happens on WhatsApp, which means data privacy is incredibly important.
Under POPI, WhatsApp administrators have a real responsibility to protect residents’ information. That’s why:
- We asked members to provide basic details and acknowledge our privacy approach.
- Some residents who did not want to do this were removed from the group.
This isn’t about exclusion. It’s about creating a space where we can coordinate effectively and safely, knowing that privacy and accountability are taken seriously.
8. Crime, Broken Windows and Dumping by the Bridge
Many residents have noticed that crime has picked up.
We’ve spoken on the group about the Broken Windows Theory – the idea that visible neglect (like broken windows, dumped rubbish and unmanaged spaces) sends a signal that nobody cares, inviting more serious problems over time.
We can see versions of this in our area:
- Ongoing dumping by the bridge
- Theft of gate motors
- Domestic workers being robbed of their phones
The good news is that the opposite is also true:
When a community is visibly active, organised and caring, it sends exactly the right signal – “People care here. You can’t just do as you please.”
That’s the culture we’re working towards together.
9. CCTV: A Community-Led Deterrent
One of our most effective tools so far has been CCTV cameras.
We’ve already seen how their presence changes behaviour: that silver Etios doesn’t drive down camera-covered roads anymore. That’s not magic – that’s deterrence.
To expand this success, we especially need:
- Business owners who work from home to come on board. Your contribution helps protect your road, your property and your customers.
- Each road to rally together and install just two cameras as a starting point.
Crime is often opportunistic. By increasing visibility and accountability, we make it harder for opportunists to operate.
If you’d like to be part of the next phase of the CCTV project:
👉 Reach out. Even one household or one business deciding to act can inspire a whole road. Email hello@unityincommunity.org.za
10. Volunteers, Trust and a Community on Its Way to Thriving
Behind all of this are people:
- Our administrators are volunteers.
- They all have full-time jobs and families.
- Yet they still make time to log faults, talk to officials, attend meetings and respond to residents.
We won’t get everything perfect, and we can’t fix everything at once. But we are committed, and we are learning and improving as we go.
This month, we hope we’ve earned a little more of your trust – through transparent updates, relentless follow-ups and a genuine desire to see our area improve.
We’re not just trying to get by. Step by step, we are building a community that can thrive – safer, better maintained and more connected.
11. December: Rest, Family Time and a Little Neighborhood TLC
December is almost here – and we all need a breather.
It’s a time to:
- Rest
- Spend time with family and friends
- Reflect on the year gone by
But it’s also a great opportunity for some community TLC:
- Clean up verges
- Cut back overgrown trees and bushes
- Tidy pavements and shared spaces
- Make our streets look cared for, not forgotten
If everyone does just a little on their own pavement or corner, the overall effect will be huge. A neat, cared-for neighborhood says:
“We’re proud of where we live – and we’re watching.”
12. Gratitude, Encouragement and the Ballot Box
We want to say a sincere thank you to:
- Media24 / Caxton News and Independent Media for shining a light on our issues.
- The officials within eThekwini who are engaging and helping us move things forward.
- Our Councillor Samantha, for her ongoing support and guidance. We wish her a full and speedy recovery.
We will continue to be relentless in following through – because unlike those in the municipality who give the impression they don’t work, we do. And if every resident in our area keeps raising their voice, logging issues and holding leaders accountable, then yes – a few people in high places might start feeling just a little nervous.
And if they still don’t deliver?
🗳️ Then we’ll smile, stand in the queue in 2026, and very clearly express our feelings at the ballot box.
SarahB, MarvinN, BronwynneB, NomasontoN, WayneE, VishalK, CarlaK