More than 100 people protested outside the iLembe district municipal offices this morning, demanding urgent action be taken to address the ongoing water crisis in the area.

Led by the Democratic Alliance (DA), the protest also included KwaDukuza residents who joined out of frustration of their taps running dry and crumbling infrastructure.

Protesters talked of water shedding and erratic supply, with many characterising a years-long struggle for functional service delivery.

Residents in KwaDukuza, Maphumulo, Ndwedwe and Mandeni get their water supplied by iLembe, except for those covered by the Siza Water Concession Area in Ballito and surrounding areas.

One KwaDukuza resident affected, Faziel Essop from Stanger Manor, said his water is switched off every evening from 9pm.

“Sometimes the water only comes back on in the late afternoon the next day,” he said.

“We want more solutions and less excuses.”

DA iLembe political head, Sakhile Mngadi, said the crisis had been caused by a lack of infrastructure maintenance and oversight.

“This is a violation of the most basic human right and a failure of governance at multiple levels,” said Mngadi.

“We echo the voices of those who are tired of empty promises and service delivery.”

Mngadi was joined by some of the DA’s most prominent political figures in the district and province.

Chanting “water is a right not a privilege,” DA KZN deputy leader Sthembiso Ngema, uMngeni mayor Chris Pappas, iLembe caucus leader Krsna Sing and local ward councillors delivered a memorandum to iLembe municipal manager, Sazi Mbhele.

Some of the key demands in the memorandum include:

• Immediate expansion of the Siza Water concession to cover the entire KwaDukuza municipality.
• A full audit and modernisation of the iLembe water billing system, including the roll out of smart meters.
• A comprehensive water reduction plan addressing infrastructure leaks and illegal connections.
• An end to ongoing water shedding in several KwaDukuza wards.
• Clear timelines for upgrades to reservoirs and pumping stations.
• A freeze on the proposed 13.5% water tariff hike until services are stabilised.

iLembe was given 14 days to respond, failing which the DA said they would escalate the matter through legal channels.

The municipality was not immediately available for comment.

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