Latest News & Developments
eThekwini Municipality is drowning in a sewage crisis with over 16 600 illegal connections contaminating streets and waterways. Despite removing 2 917 pipes, enforcement has stalled since 2020 when courts stopped pursuing cases. Local conservationists and councillors are demanding immediate action as health hazards and environmental damage escalate across Durban.
Nilgiri Crescent residents in Durban are battling an unbearable stench and overflowing sewage from the adjacent Kanku Road housing development. The 330-unit complex reportedly lacks proper sewerage infrastructure, causing environmental hazards and health risks as raw waste flows into stormwater drains.
The eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement is demanding answers after the municipality revealed it collected R669. 5 million in infrastructure surcharges, with residents claiming no visible improvements despite the municipality extending the controversial levy into 2025/2026.
More than 4 000 eThekwini residents have been waiting up to two years for prepaid water and electricity meters despite having paid for installations. This investigation reveals how budget shortfalls, vehicle shortages, and stock depletion have created a massive backlog, while officials from the Electricity Unit and Supply Chain Management face mounting questions about accountability and service delivery failures.
IFP councillor Dr Jonathan Annipen accuses eThekwini Municipality of racial profiling in its 10% rental tariff increase proposal, claiming only Phoenix's Ward 48 is targeted while other areas are excluded from the rate hike plan.
eThekwini Municipality's draft property rates policy has come under fire for potentially forcing elderly homeowners out of their homes due to unaffordable rates. DA Councillor Bradley Singh is advocating for an income-based rather than property value-based relief system, arguing that the current approach contradicts the city's claim of being 'Africa's most caring city'.
Three years after the South African Human Rights Commission's findings, eThekwini Municipality continues to face a severe water crisis, impacting residents' daily lives and raising concerns over human rights violations.
eThekwini's ambitious R15 billion water turnaround strategy faces intense scrutiny as ratepayer associations condemn it as a 'rehashing of old promises'. With water losses amounting to R2 billion annually, stakeholders demand concrete action and oversight in what they call a critical trust deficit between citizens and city officials.