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eThekwini Water Rationing

Dear Editor

Despite rainfall, the implementation of water rationing in eThekwini Municipality is a stark indication of the escalating water crisis facing municipalities across South Africa. This latest development underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response from all three tiers of government to prevent widespread water shortages and infrastructure collapse.

Residents in areas such as Umlazi, Westville, and Queensburgh have been subjected to water rationing due to declining bulk water supply and aging infrastructure. With uMngeni-uThukela Water’s curtailment measures dating back to October 2024, the municipality’s inability to maintain reservoir storage levels has forced authorities to implement rotational supply restrictions.

This is not an isolated incident. Municipalities across South Africa are grappling with chronic water supply challenges, exacerbated by mismanagement, aging infrastructure, high levels of non-revenue water loss, and financial instability. Reports indicate that eThekwini alone suffers from a staggering 56% water loss due to leaks, illegal connections, and billing inefficiencies, mirroring similar crises in metros such as Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay.

The DA calls for an urgent intergovernmental approach to address these systemic failures and ensure sustainable water provision:

Establishing a National Water Infrastructure Recovery Plan: Government must develop and implement a structured national recovery plan to address failing infrastructure, focusing on leak detection, pipeline replacement, and reservoir rehabilitation.

Municipal Debt Reform and Revenue Collection Support: Many municipalities struggle to pay their bulk water bills, leading to supply cuts. National Treasury must implement stricter oversight mechanisms and debt recovery plans to stabilise water boards and ensure uninterrupted supply to municipalities.

Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Government must actively engage the private sector to co-invest in water security solutions such as desalination plants, advanced purification technologies, and borehole development to diversify water sources.

Water Conservation and Efficiency Programmes: A national campaign must be launched to promote water-saving initiatives, including incentives for households and businesses to implement greywater systems, rainwater harvesting, and smart metering.

The ongoing water crisis in eThekwini and other municipalities reflects a broader national trend of deteriorating service delivery and governance failures. South Africa cannot afford to wait for complete service collapse before taking action. The DA will continue to fight for accountable governance, sound financial management, and urgent infrastructure investment to secure the country’s water future.

Regards

Stephen Moore MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Water & Sanitation

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