eThekwini’s water crisis: not about supply but loss, failure and lack of accountability

MILLIONS of litres of treated drinking water are lost daily, while eThekwini residents endure dry taps for weeks, queue for water tankers, or go without. The losses are not only due to leaks and burst pipes – they are also due to theft, illegal connections, faulty meters, billing failures and infrastructure collapse.

With only about 40% of water billed, the system is clearly not working.

What these losses mean is less revenue to fix pipes, maintain infrastructure and deliver reliable services - trapping residents in a cycle of breakdown and frustration.

This is why the Democratic Alliance (DA) has tabled a formal motion in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Legislature calling on CoGTA MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi to ensure;

• A full audit on non-revenue water
• A review of the water turnaround strategy and;
• The submission of a comprehensive report to both the KZN Legislature and the province’s CoGTA portfolio committee, for the purposes of oversight.

We expect the MEC to ensure that this is done within the next 30 days. Unless eThekwini’s municipal system is fixed, no increase in raw water supply will resolve this ongoing crisis. Our people deserve better.

MARLAINE NAIR, MPL

DA KZN Spokesperson on CoGTA