Water tankers have returned to the roads across eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality after drivers staged what the city described as an illegal strike, temporarily halting deliveries to dozens of communities reliant on emergency water supply.
The disruption left at least 42 wards vulnerable, with many residents dependent on tanker deliveries due to ongoing interruptions in the municipal water network.
Municipal water tanker and TLB operators downed tools on Tuesday, reportedly over the alleged dismissal of a colleague. Workers demanded the employee’s reinstatement and the withdrawal of disciplinary action. They also raised concerns about rotational shifts used to fill acting positions and what they described as unfair labour practices.
The city issued a return-to-work directive, and operations resumed on Wednesday.
In a statement, the municipality said it is engaging with staff and addressing their concerns while working to stabilise services. Recruitment is underway to fill eight vacant posts and appoint an additional 60 drivers to strengthen operations.
Plans are also in progress to expand the fleet with about 100 new tankers and introduce digital monitoring systems to improve efficiency and accountability.
The city added that 39 tankers are currently out of service due to licence renewals and mechanical issues, but all are expected to be back in operation by 27 February 2026.
To improve reliability, officials have introduced a detailed deployment schedule, including targeted deliveries to Ward 3 (Umzinyathi) and Ward 108 (Eskebheni/Umzinyathi). Each ward is expected to receive between nine and 12 tankers daily, depending on demand and scheduling.
While services have resumed, residents in affected areas remain heavily dependent on the tanker system as the municipality works to restore consistent water supply.