KZN COGTA COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON SEEKS CLARITY ON ETHEKWINI WATER AND SANITATION CONTRACTOR MATTER
22 July 2026
KZN COGTA COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON SEEKS CLARITY ON ETHEKWINI WATER AND SANITATION CONTRACTOR MATTER
The Chairperson of the portfolio on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Honourable Marlaine Nair has written to the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) seeking clarity regarding the ongoing contractor-related matter within eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Unit.
The request follows reports of an ongoing contractor-related matter affecting eThekwini Municipality’s water and sanitation operations, with recent disruptions reported at municipal water depots. It also follows earlier reports of payment-related protests and work stoppages involving water and sanitation contractors over several months.
Reliable water provision has been a sustained focus of the CoGTA Portfolio Committee’s oversight work.
The chair said the committee had previously undertaken a focused intervention study into water-supply challenges in eThekwini. It has also conducted oversight of major bulk-water infrastructure intended to improve water supply to eThekwini and other parts of the province.
This work has highlighted the importance of infrastructure, sufficient bulk-water supply, effective maintenance and adequate operational capacity in ensuring that water reaches communities reliably.
“It is therefore concerning that an ongoing administrative and contractor-management matter may pose an additional operational risk to water and sanitation services, “she added.
Honourable Nair said the purpose of the request was not to pre-judge the matter or apportion blame. Individual contractual and payment disputes must be addressed through the appropriate municipal processes.
“The concern is whether the matter is affecting municipal operations, whether it is being adequately managed and whether appropriate measures are in place to protect the continuity of essential services. Clarity is particularly important given eThekwini’s status as KwaZulu-Natal’s only metropolitan municipality.”
Reliable water and sanitation services are essential to households, businesses and economic activity. Any prolonged disruption could therefore have wider consequences for communities and the economy.
The MEC has been asked to provide clarity on the current situation, the steps being taken by the municipality and whether any provincial support may be required.
“The central concern is to ensure that administrative difficulties do not become an additional barrier to reliable water and sanitation services or further compound the challenges already facing the municipality.”
ISSUED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, HONOURABLE MARLAINE NAIR
