Community fears grow over eThekwini's wastewater infrastructure funding
Budgets allocated for the repair of Tongaat water treatment works are a concern. In April 2024, members of the Verulam Water Crisis Committee, and residents from La Mercy, Tongaat and Phoenix, protested outside the Durban City Hall over water issues.
Image: File
THE eThekwini Municipality has allocated R69 million for urgent repairs to four critical wastewater infrastructure sites that were damaged during the storm in April 2022.
However, this funding approach has sparked tensions, as it reportedly comes from identifying savings within the Water and Sanitation 2025/26 financial year capital budget. This strategy threatens the timely completion of other scheduled projects.
The funding, which has been approved by the eThekwini Trading Services Committee, will cover repairs at the Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) and various surrounding sewer catchments.
Service providers have already been appointed to undertake investigations, design, and construction for the identified projects.
Despite this allocation, four projects reflected a zero-budget allocation as of January 15, 2026. These projects include:
- Umhlathuzana Trunk Sewer
- Northern Wastewater Treatment Works
- Padfield Road sewer repair
- Homeford Road sewer repairs
The municipality has stated that service providers cannot commence implementation until the budget is made available, even though these projects are planned for completion within the 2025/26 financial year.
The committee was informed that the proposed funding transfer originates from the Tongaat water treatment works allocation. Regular feedback on the projects has been requested, and the committee intends to conduct oversight and inspections.
Yogis Govender, a DA eThekwini councillor, described the process as unacceptable and referred to it as “a rodeo or a game of musical chairs.” She emphasised that this was not a technical budget adjustment but rather a political choice that abandons communities still recovering from the April 2022 floods.
Govender expressed concerns that shifting funds would delay service delivery by years, risk contract cancellations, and leave residents without safe, reliable sanitation.
“They are throwing money – millions at failed, incomplete, disputed projects. Money is redirected from a long-awaited upgrade to the Tongaat waterworks. This is unacceptable; it is a huge blow to thousands of people who have endured misery and suffering brought on by natural disasters and the self-inflicted crisis made by eThekwini Municipality,” she stated.
Furthermore, Govender noted that the municipality provided contradictory reports at committee meetings regarding Tongaat water works.
“The municipality must collect outstanding debt to fund these projects. We are splurging money on non-essential events and R2.8 million on rebranding,” she added.
During the council meeting on Thursday, Govender called for the following actions:
- Immediate reinstatement of the full amounts originally allocated to the Tongaat WTW functional upgrade and the Waterloo–Katzkop project.
- A public meeting convened and attended by officials to explain the situation to the community.
- A binding delivery timetable for Tongaat and Waterloo, with milestones and independent oversight to ensure contracts are not cancelled and work commences without further delay.
“Residents waited for these promised upgrades to restore dignity and human rights. To see those funds suddenly repurposed is a betrayal. We will not accept being deprioritised while other projects are fast-tracked,” she asserted.
Additionally, councillors in the Trading Services Committee have requested that relevant officials consult with affected councillors and provide reasons for the non-implementation of the identified projects and the inability to fully spend the allocated budget during the 2025/26 financial year.