The eThekwini Municipality has opened criminal cases at KwaNdengezi, Phoenix, Newlands, and Hammarsdale police stations for theft of a digital scale and copper.
Image: File
The eThekwini Municipality has opened four criminal cases for infrastructure theft worth R912,000, and also highlighted improvements in key directorates.
A report from the municipality’s Trading Services Committee stated that cases have been opened at KwaNdengezi, Phoenix, Newlands, and Hammarsdale police stations for theft of a digital scale in KwaNdengezi (R7,000), 29kg of copper (R5,000) in Phoenix, 8kg of copper in Newlands East, and five tons of mixed copper worth R900,000 in Hammarsdale.
The committee also presented statistics on the work undertaken in March 2026. In the 2023/24 financial year, the municipality’s Water and Sanitation Directorate (WSD) lost R2 billion, and R2.9 billion in the 2024/25 financial year. The Energy Management Directorate lost R1.9 billion for the 2024/25 financial year.
The municipality has since adopted a turnaround strategy for both directorates under the Trading Reforms Programme. Trading services in the municipality will become ring-fenced units with a single point of accountability.
Councillor Mdu Nkosi, chairperson of the committee, said the energy directorate serves over 790,000 customers across nearly 2,000 kilometres.
He explained that the main electricity supply to eThekwini is purchased at 275,000 volts from Eskom and is transmitted and distributed to customers. Nkosi said the municipality purchases just over 5% of the total energy generated by Eskom.
A report outlining the WSD's performance for March 2026 stated that the directorate manages an extensive water network spanning 14,469 kilometres and an 8,600-kilometre sewer network.
This infrastructure includes 30 wastewater treatment works, incorporating two sea outfall pipelines, and 255 wastewater pump stations. To effectively meet demands, 361 water storage facilities and 33 water pump stations are strategically placed to serve most areas.
The report noted that informal settlements are provided with service through 1,633 community ablution blocks, surpassing the requirements set by the World Health Organization for a water standpipe.
Nkosi said these community ablution blocks offer hand washing, clothes washing, toilet, urinal, and shower facilities, catering for 50 households each.
In total, 984,942 households have access to water, with 630,565 of them being indigent. Additionally, 891,990 households are provided with sanitation services, with 508,146 of them being indigent.
In February, the directorate effectively addressed 3,057 sewer blockages, 9,441 customer service leaks, 7,516 operational leaks, and 957 burst pipes within 48 hours of the initial complaint.
“Performance of the directorate is key to the service delivery objectives of the municipality. This report provides the required information on performance areas that support service delivery,” Nkosi said.
The suburbs with the highest number of water faults in March 2026 were Reservoir Hills (312), Clermont (244), Newlands East (183), Lovu (169), and Amanzimtoti (152).
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za