SEDIBENG.- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Emfuleni is calling on the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) to urgently address the escalating number of unrepaired water leaks that are wasting millions of rands worth of treated water and undermining basic service delivery.

DA Emfuleni Shadow MMC for Public Works, Dady Mollo, said that across multiple wards, residents continue to experience frequent water interruptions and low pressure.

“At the same time, significant volumes of treated water are being lost through leaks that are either not attended to promptly or remain unrepaired for extended periods. The DA views this as a direct failure in infrastructure maintenance and municipal accountability.”

Mollo said, “Every drop lost to negligence is money wasted and a service denied to residents already struggling with inconsistent supply. This situation cannot continue while the municipality’s budget and service delivery capacity are under strain.”

To restore accountability and improve response, the DA is demanding that the municipality publicly disclose:

1. The total number of water leaks reported over the past 12 months

2. The number of leaks repaired and the current backlog

3. The average turnaround time for repairs

4. The estimated financial impact of water losses from delayed responses

In response to the situation, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting interventions that will restore stable water and sanitation services in the municipality. This follows submissions made during the South African Human Rights Commission hearings into water challenges in Gauteng recently.