WATCH | Water issues at boiling point as DA hands over petition
The DA criticised the municipality's recently approved 2026/27 budget, which includes a 13% increase in water and sanitation tariffs.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday handed over a petition signed by more than 1,500 residents to the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, calling for urgent intervention to address ongoing water shortages across the district.
The petition was received by uMgungundlovu District Mayor Sibongile Dlamini and Speaker Nonhlanhla Gabela following a picket outside the municipality’s offices led by newly elected DA KwaZulu-Natal leader Sithembiso Ngema.
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Ngema said residents were frustrated by persistent water outages despite annual tariff increases and called on the municipality to prioritise repairs and maintenance of ageing infrastructure.
“While the district continues to increase tariffs, many communities are still without reliable access to water. Residents are paying more but are not receiving the basic services they deserve,” he said.
The DA criticised the municipality’s recently approved 2026/27 budget, which includes a 13% increase in water and sanitation tariffs.
According to the party, only 1.2% of the budget has been allocated to repairs and maintenance, significantly below the National Treasury guideline of 8%.
Ngema said nearly 46% of the district’s bulk water is lost through leaks, broken infrastructure, illegal connections and theft, placing additional pressure on the municipality’s finances and water supply network.
He added that residents in areas such as Wozobona, in the Impendle area, had reported severe water shortages, with some households allegedly having little or no access to safe drinking water and receiving inconsistent water tanker services.
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Among the demands contained in the petition are urgent action to reduce non-revenue water losses, increased spending on infrastructure maintenance, improved revenue collection, the restoration of reliable water supply to affected communities and measures to stop sewage pollution entering the uMngeni River and Albert Falls catchment.
The DA has requested that the municipality provide a written response to the petition by June 30.
Ngema said residents had waited too long for basic services.
“Access to clean water is a basic right and residents of uMgungundlovu deserve a government that can provide this essential service,” he said.
The municipality had not responded to the DA’s claims at the time of publication.
