To: eThekwini Municipality, Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture, and the Honourable Mayor of Durban

Restore Our Community Library – Reservoir Hills Deserves Access to Knowledge and Learning!

UPDATED - June 2026

In July 2021, our beloved Reservoir Hills Municipal Library was looted and destroyed during the unrest that swept through our community. Since then, our neighbourhood has been without an essential hub for knowledge, learning, and community gathering. For more than five years, students, children, elderly citizens, and community members have been deprived of a vital resource that supported literacy, education, and personal development.

In January 2024, eThekwini Municipality published a tender to lease premises for the Reservoir Hills Library within a 4 km radius of the Reservoir Hills Shopping Mall. However, this process has been delayed, and our community continues to suffer without a library. As residents of Reservoir Hills, we strongly believe that the reinstatement of our library must be prioritised without further delay.

Why the Library Matters to Us:

Education and Literacy Support: The library provided invaluable resources for students of all ages, assisting with schoolwork, research, and general learning. It offered a quiet space for study and access to reading material that many families cannot afford on their own.

Community Development: Libraries foster community connection and development. They offer programmes, workshops, and events that engage residents of all ages, promote lifelong learning, and build social cohesion.

Access to Technology: For many, the library was a gateway to access technology and the internet, helping job seekers, students, and others who lack personal resources to connect with the digital world.

Safe Learning Space: Libraries are safe spaces where youth can engage in productive activities, reducing the risks associated with unsupervised free time, especially in our community.

Our Urgent Request:

We, the undersigned, call upon the eThekwini Municipality to:

Expedite the lease and establishment of a new Reservoir Hills Library in line with the January 2024 tender.

Ensure the new library premises are easily accessible and safe and provide the necessary resources and programs to support our diverse community.
Allocate additional funding and resources to rebuild and enhance the library’s services, making it a model for community engagement and education.

Let’s Bring Back Our Library!

We urge every resident of Reservoir Hills and beyond who values education, community, and progress to sign this petition. Together, we can show our local government that the Reservoir Hills community deserves a functioning library that empowers its people.

Your voice matters. Sign and share this petition to help us restore the Reservoir Hills Municipal Library!

Reservoir Hills Ratepayers Association NPC