Traffic along the M19 Highway was brought to a standstill on Wednesday morning after residents from the uMgudulu Informal Settlement staged a protest over ongoing water supply problems.
Demonstrators blocked the busy route near Reservoir Hills by lighting fires on the roadway, forcing the closure of the highway and causing significant traffic disruptions. The M19 is a key route linking Durban and Pinetown, and motorists were diverted to alternative routes as authorities worked to manage the congestion.
Residents say the protest was triggered by persistent water supply issues, including low water pressure and frequent pipe bursts in the area.
Ward 23 councillor Alicia Kissoon said the problem has been ongoing for months and has repeatedly been reported to the eThekwini Municipality.
Kissoon said communities along Varsity Drive and Hatfield Road have also been affected.
She noted that the area has experienced at least one water pipe burst per week since January, adding that the issue has been raised with municipal officials through written complaints and numerous calls.
Kissoon warned that residents should not have to resort to protest action to have their concerns addressed, describing the situation as a water crisis that requires urgent intervention.
Meanwhile, residents in Nkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal also took to the streets earlier this week to protest poor road conditions.
Community members demonstrated on Monday, calling for urgent action from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport to repair and upgrade several roads in the area.
They say routes including the P16 Road and P90 Road have been in poor condition for years, making travel difficult and costly for motorists.
The department has acknowledged the concerns, stating that it currently faces a road maintenance backlog exceeding R20 billion across the province.
Road users are advised to proceed with caution and expect delays while authorities manage the situation.