Umhlanga Residents Demand Stronger Police Presence Amid Rising Lawlessness

Once considered the “Jewel of Durban,” Umhlanga is now grappling with growing frustration over lawlessness, failing infrastructure, and falling property values. Residents are demanding urgent intervention this time directly from eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba.

At a recent meeting at Durban City Hall, the Umhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association (URRA) tabled a petition with 550 signatures gathered in just three days, calling for increased metro police visibility and stronger law enforcement.

“Our Property Values Are Declining”

URRA chairperson Terri Maclarty said residents are desperate for solutions. Revving cars, noisy clubs, reckless supercars, and minibus taxis openly ignoring traffic laws have created an environment where residents feel unsafe and investors are losing confidence.

“We sincerely hope this will assist the community as we are experiencing a severe reduction in our home values,” Maclarty explained, adding that unchecked lawlessness is driving families and businesses away.

Mayor Xaba, who engaged positively with the residents, proposed a workshop with stakeholders to address lawlessness in the precinct.

Service Delivery on the Agenda

The meeting covered much more than crime. Residents raised a long list of service delivery failures, including:

• Raw sewerage leaks in La Lucia, caused by recurring failures at the Armstrong Road pump station. City officials confirmed that 900 metres of new piping will be installed within four weeks after temporary fixes repeatedly failed.

• Beach closures that continue to damage Umhlanga’s tourism sector. Residents warned this threatens both the local economy and Durban’s reputation as a holiday destination.

• Dilapidated promenade facilities, including public ablutions in shocking condition.

• Billing chaos, with ratepayers facing errors and inflated accounts. The finance department has asked residents to submit monthly meter readings to avoid overbilling.

• Illegal taxi activity on the M4, where drivers park and wash vehicles in full view of tourists. The city says a holding rank is being planned.

“We Want What We Pay For”

Maclarty said the association stressed the need for infrastructure upgrades before further development continues, warning that the system is already overstretched.

“The mayor has committed to working with us to resolve the many issues we brought to him, and we look forward to continued discussion,” she said.

Xaba acknowledged the frustrations, confirming the two-hour engagement touched on metro police capacity, sewerage challenges, stormwater upgrades, homelessness, and water leak repairs. He assured residents that city departments had presented clear plans for action.

A Community at a Crossroads

This is not the first time Umhlanga residents have taken their grievances to the mayor. In August 2024, the URRA also met with Xaba to discuss similar issues beach water quality, by-law enforcement, and the city’s billing system.

The repeat concerns show how deeply entrenched the problems have become. For many residents, the hope now rests on whether the city’s promises will finally translate into visible change on the ground.

{Source: IOL}

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