The eThekwini Municipality has invested nearly R3 billion to stabilise its water and sanitation infrastructure over the past few years. The funds were utilised for various interventions, including maintenance of existing infrastructure, construction of new infrastructure, repair of leaks, and purchase of water tankers. This investment is in addition to the R1.2 billion spent on water infrastructure in the southern parts of the city, including uMlazi.
eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba recently briefed the media on the council's efforts to address the city's water infrastructure challenges. He highlighted the progress made in the current term, following the council's last meeting. The water crisis has been a pressing concern for the city and a key issue in the upcoming local government elections on 4 November. The mayor, along with City Manager Musa Mbhele and Deputy Head of Technical Services Ednick Msweli, had threatened legal action against the DA over a billboard implying they were a "water tanker mafia".
One of the significant interventions has been the R1.2 billion Southern Aqueduct Upgrade Project, which aims to strengthen water security for over 1.2 million residents in several areas, including uMlazi, Folweni, and Chatsworth. The project is part of the municipality's efforts to rebuild eThekwini following the damage caused by floods. Mayor Xaba reported that several areas in the northern region have enjoyed an uninterrupted water supply for the past two to three years, largely due to the commissioning of the Northern Aqueduct in 2024.
The municipality has also made progress in reducing non-revenue water losses, tackling illegal connections, and intensifying maintenance programmes. To address leaks, a specialised leak-repair team has been established, and 150,000 flow restrictors have been installed in high-pressure zones. Furthermore, R124 million has been allocated to recruit additional plumbers, and R565 million has been set aside for leak repairs in critical zones.
In addition to these efforts, the municipality has successfully insourced its water-tanker service, investing approximately R345 million in building an internal fleet of 318 tankers. The council has also approved three priority interventions to address ageing and underperforming wastewater infrastructure, to be implemented by uMngeni-uThukela Water. The estimated cost of these interventions is R791 million.
The council has further approved the reprioritisation of R157 million within the 2026/27 budget to complete storm-damaged sewer-repair projects in various areas, including Clermont, Savannah Park, and Bridge City. These projects aim to address the city's wastewater infrastructure challenges. Recently, a new R48 million water reservoir was launched in KwaNqetho, upgraded from one megalitre to six megalitres to meet growing demand in the area.
Despite the interventions, political analyst Thabani Khumalo expressed concerns that the ANC may struggle to regain the trust of residents due to a history of service-delivery failures, corruption, and incompetence. The upcoming local government elections will be crucial in determining the future of eThekwini's governance.
Key points
- eThekwini Municipality has invested nearly R3 billion to address water and sanitation challenges.
- The municipality has made progress in reducing non-revenue water losses and tackling illegal connections.
- The council has approved interventions to address ageing and underperforming wastewater infrastructure.
