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The water shutdown planned for today that is affecting millions of eThekwini residents is a result of decades of mismanagement by the ANC-led municipality coupled with mass corruption.

The residents in the Northern part of eThekwini continue to bear the brunt of this political and administrative incompetence.

The municipality says this is because of the aqueduct system in the vicinity of Piesang river, in Mount Moriah however they have done very little to address this problem.

Over the last 20 years, the eThekwini Municipality failed to invest sufficiently in repairs and maintenance of water infrastructure and underground pipes. As a consequence of this failure by the City’s management and political leaders, major pipelines are collapsing and causing huge inconvenience to residents and will no doubt have a massive impact on the city’s economy.

The current ANC-IFP-EFF coalition has done absolutely nothing to address this problem. In fact, they have made it worse.

The DA wishes to inform the residents of this city that almost 60% of our water is unaccounted for through theft and leaks with no plan in place by the ANC-led coalition to do anything about it.

Hard pressed residents are paying for water which is wasted into the ground, and this adds extra pressure to already struggling families.

The DA has asked the eThekwini Municipality Executive Committee to:

- Submit a hot spot map of the where the 58% water is actually lost
- ⁠Indicate if this is through bursts, unmetered standpipes or illegal connections
- ⁠Prioritize funding these areas as ranked by the losses for emergency repairs.
- ⁠Submit a high-level report on sabotage or vandalism that is contributing to these losses.

The DA will continue to fight for the rights of eThekwini residents like having access to water.

Issued by Councillor Yogis Govender - DA eThekwini EXCO Member