Northern KwaDukuza is facing a severe water crisis due to ongoing infrastructure failures, particularly in KwaDukuza town, where frequent burst pipes have led to persistent shortages.

The town relies on the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme in Mandeni, but significant infrastructure challenges are disrupting supply.

The iLembe District Municipality, which is responsible for water supply, has remained silent on plans to resolve these issues.

Stanger Manor, Warrenton, Stanger Heights, Highridge, Glenhills, Shakaville, KwaDukuza CBD and Blythedale are some of the areas most affected. The southern region of the municipality – supplied by Siza Water – has not been affected.

Before the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Scheme, these areas relied on the uMvoti Water Works. A new supply line was added in 2019 due to ageing infrastructure, but it too is now unreliable and frequently breaks down, causing prolonged water outages. The uMvoti Water Works has been non-operational since the 2022 floods, and illegal sand mining at the Umvoti River in Groutville has diverted the river’s course, further threatening water availability.

While reports suggest that the municipality has plans to rehabilitate the river and rebuild the waterworks, no official updates have been provided.

Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader in iLembe, Krsna Sing, has expressed deep frustration over the daily water shutdowns affecting residents. The lack of storage capacity and poor workmanship have created a crisis that requires urgent intervention.

According to Sing, a contractor has been appointed to restore the uMvoti Water Works.

Additionally, a 48-hour backup storage project and an alternative water line from Ntwashini should be fast-tracked to ensure a stable supply. However, issues of poor repairs and sub-par workmanship continue to make the situation worse. He said political disputes among council members have further delayed solutions.

“It has become clear that many of the issues arising from these shutdowns are due to poor workmanship and a lack of skills. The same repairs are done over and over again, with residents being left to suffer the consequences. This is unacceptable and highlights the need for urgent intervention,” said Sing.

Sing said short-term solutions include restoring partial operations at the uMvoti Water Works and activating an alternative supply line from Ntwashini to ease pressure on the Kearsney line.
Long-term solutions involve fully commissioning the uMvoti Water Works, building a storage reservoir at Kearsney to ensure emergency backup supply and upgrading the Thukela Bulk Water Scheme to provide a more reliable service.

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