eThekwini Municipality has acknowledged that widespread leaks in its water system, rather than rising demand, are the primary cause of ongoing supply shortages across the city.
Mayor Cyril Xaba addressed the issue during an Executive Committee (Exco) meeting yesterday, as several areas in Durban continue to face water disruptions.
The crisis has severely impacted critical services, including Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi, where patients have been forced to rely on water tankers and bottled water following more than a week of outages.
Xaba warned that the persistent failures have weakened the city’s revenue and its ability to maintain a stable water supply. "It affects our capacity to carry out repairs, operations, and infrastructure maintenance, as well as our responsiveness to customers," he explained.
He emphasized the need for urgent intervention. "There are serious leaks in our system. Our scientists must guide us in addressing them correctly. We must enforce stricter measures on consumption and demand," Xaba stated.
The municipality continues to face mounting pressure to resolve the crisis and ensure reliable water access for residents.