ETHEKWINI Mayor Cyril Xaba has called on municipal officials to tighten controls in the management of private water tankers, including the processing of outstanding legitimate invoices, to ensure uninterrupted water supply to communities supplied by water tankers.

In a statement, eThekwini Municipality said the temporary suspension of services by private water tanker providers is due to delayed payments.

“While the City has embarked on a process of procuring its own water tankers, the private tankers still play a critical role in supplementing the City-owned fleet of 299 tankers, especially in areas experiencing intermittent water supply. The processing of invoices may seem like a routine administrative task, but for many communities, it is the difference between having access to water or going without. Water is life, and we must ensure that no community is left languishing without it,” said Xaba.

The municipality said that the delays were primarily due to budgetary constraints toward the end of the 2024/2025 financial year.

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In response, the municipality is implementing a comprehensive review of its internal financial workflows.

This includes the introduction of real-time tracking systems and enhanced co-ordination between departments to ensure that all legitimate invoices are processed and paid within agreed timelines.

The municipality’s long-term objective remains that of ensuring the provision of a continuous and reliable water supply, with water tankers being used only in emergency situations.

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