The eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) unit is expected to conduct a clean “sweep” of the outstanding backlog of 7,000 pipe leaks once the budget becomes available from July 2025. The EWS presented its status of water supply report for May 2025 to the eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) on Tuesday
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The eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) unit is expected to conduct a clean sweep of the outstanding backlog of 7,000 pipe leaks from July 2025, subject to budget availability.
The EWS presented its status of water supply report for May 2025 to the eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) on Tuesday. The municipality intends to create a separate management entity for the EWS with a planned Water Turnaround Strategy (WTA) to resolve its problems.
Sibusiso Vilane, the acting HOD for EWS, said the municipality was ranked “very poor” when it came to the Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) interpretation. This was in the category of unavoidable annual real losses (UARL) and current annual real losses (CARL). The ILI defined poor as an urgent need for leakage control and asset renewal.
With demand exceeding supply, Vilane said that reducing Non-Revenue Water is crucial for improving the financial and operational performance of EWS.
“When we get access to the budget, we are going to be sweeping all areas of backlogs from the list from July 2025,” he said.
Vilane also touched on plumbing contractors that cost the city an estimated R56 million per month. He said a review of the policy was in place for contractors, including upskilling many of them to meet requirements.
According to Vilane, the EWS has been hard at work installing restrictors, generators, and meters at reservoirs.
He said they were looking at a new management approach to streamline the EWS and hold people accountable.
Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala, ANC Exco whip, commended the EWS on the interim arrangement to supply Clover with water to stabilise the supply.
Madlala called on the EWS to extend this approach by identifying other critical stakeholders such as hospitals, hotels, and other essential service institutions, and to urgently design a targeted water supply plan to ensure uninterrupted service to these facilities.
Madlala said the commencement of the second phase of the installation of back-up generators is a crucial intervention to guarantee water supply during periods of electricity outages.
“This forms part of a broader resilience strategy that we fully endorse. The introduction of performance-based water management contracts is noted and supported. These contracts will not only promote efficiency but will also help in driving accountability and measurable outcomes.”
Madlala said the adoption of a single point of accountability approach could significantly contribute to reducing the ILU to below 4, an important milestone in curbing NRW.
He stated that these interventions reflect a proactive and responsive approach to water and sanitation service delivery, adding that the ANC will continue to support and provide oversight as these plans are rolled out.
“We urge the unit to expedite the meter audit process. This will assist in improving billing accuracy and managing demand effectively. We reiterate our support for the insourcing of plumbers. This will not only improve service turnaround times but also enhance accountability and ensure value for money.”
Madlala stated that the city must communicate more proactively about challenges posed by informal settlements and developments outside existing water supply lines.
“This will help manage community expectations and inform long-term planning. We fully support the decision to acquire our plant and fleet. This is a strategic move that will improve operational efficiency, reduce reliance on external contractors, and result in long-term cost savings for the municipality,” Madlala said.
Yogis Govender, DA Exco member, called for enforcement to deal with illegal water and electricity connections.
“There is always a plan with no enforcement. There are never any arrests or statistics on what the consequences were for those found with illegal connections. I am happy that there is a tracking mechanism for the EWS implementation processes,” she said.
Thabani Mthethwa, DA head in eThekwini, urged the EWS to move from planning to implementation.
He also called for a period of amnesty for those who were connected to the system illegally to come forward without being penalised. He said this was a reason why the demand exceeds the supply.
Themba Mvubu, EFF Exco member, described the report as transparent and honest. He also agreed on the skills development of plumbers.
eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said they took the matter of water seriously and that he was concerned about the water loss figures.
“When departments are honest, we can support them in various ways. If you hide things, we will always be blaming you for all the problems people complain about. We have to deal with illegal connections before people think it is a norm and that they are entitled to free water,” Xaba said.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za