DA writes to President as KZN’s water crisis worsens

26 January 2024

I have today, in my capacity as DA provincial leader and member of the KZN Legislature written (see here) to the President of the Republic of South Africa and the KZN Premier appealing for help as the water crisis affecting large parts of eThekwini continues to worsen.

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the province’s only metro as more than an estimated one million people are left without water for days, weeks and in some cases months at a time.

I am fully cognisant of the recent flood damage that has compounded the problem of water supply in some areas of the city. However, this humanitarian crisis is now a few years in the making, with little or no solution in sight.

City officials continue to lay a portion of the blame at the uMngeni Water Board in restricting bulk water to the city, however, an on-sight inspection I undertook last year proves otherwise. This blame game has to end.

One of the biggest challenges within eThekwini is massive water loss through poorly maintained infrastructure with almost 60% of water supplied to the city currently unaccounted for.

Not only does this crisis affect our people – it also affects hospitals, clinics and schools while businesses have now also become victim to it. Businesses operating in the north of the city are now indicating that closing down or relocating to other cities is the only option they have left.

eThekwini cannot afford to lose business investment. Already, the tourism and hospitality industry have felt the brunt of service delivery collapse over the past two years. The city needs to encourage investment and not be responsible for semigration of business.

The DA will continue to knock on every strategic door to address the humanitarian crisis facing the eThekwini. This is a clarion call on the president and the premier to do what is right and intervene and resolve the crisis.

Issued by Francois Rodgers, DA KZN Leader, 26 January 2024