South Coast Communities Raise Concerns Over Ongoing Service Delivery Challenges

Communities including Port Shepstone, Margate, Hibberdene, and surrounding rural and semi-urban areas such as Gamalakhe and other inland settlements have reported ongoing challenges ranging from unreliable water supply and deteriorating road conditions to delays in refuse removal services.

Many residents say these issues have been affecting households and local businesses for extended periods, with some communities reporting repeated complaints that have not yet resulted in lasting improvements. Potholes on major and secondary roads, in particular, continue to be a major concern for daily commuters and transport operators.

Community meetings held across different wards during March provided residents with an opportunity to raise their concerns directly with municipal representatives. These gatherings highlighted widespread dissatisfaction over slow response times and incomplete infrastructure projects in several parts of the district.

One resident from Port Shepstone said the situation has become increasingly difficult for families trying to manage basic daily needs. “We understand that problems happen, but when issues like water interruptions continue for weeks, it becomes very hard to plan or live normally. We just want consistent service delivery,” the resident said.

In Gamalakhe, they expressed frustration over road conditions and municipal response delays. “Some of these roads have been in poor condition for a long time. We keep reporting them, but progress is slow. It affects transport, businesses, and even emergency services,” the resident said.

Community leader, Malundi, from Hibberdene added that while engagement with officials is important, action on the ground remains the biggest concern. “We appreciate that meetings are being held, but communities want to see visible change. Promises alone are not enough anymore; implementation needs to happen faster,” the leader said.

Municipal representatives acknowledged the concerns raised during the engagements and encouraged continued communication between residents and local departments. They noted that infrastructure backlogs and resource constraints continue to impact service delivery timelines but committed to improving responsiveness.

Despite these assurances, many community members maintain that stronger accountability and faster project implementation are needed to rebuild trust between residents and local government structures. As pressure grows across the South Coast, service delivery remains one of the most pressing issues shaping public discussion in the region.