The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Ugu South area has launched a petition regarding the ongoing power supply crisis that has paralysed the Umtamvuna Water Treatment Plant upgrade and denied over 190 000 residents in Southern KwaZulu-Natal their constitutional right to access clean, reliable water.
Despite Ugu District Municipality paying R14 million to Eskom as far back as 2019 for the construction of a vital 17 km electricity line from the Eastern Cape, the project remains incomplete, seven years later.
Repeated delays caused by unresolved community negotiations in the Alfred Nzo District have brought this project to a grinding halt, even after agreements were reached and construction began in early 2024.
We are now calling on the Minister of Water and Sanitation to step in urgently and initiate an inter-ministerial intervention with Eskom and the Alfred Nzo District Municipality to ensure the completion of this project without further delay.
The situation has worsened, with renewed community protests and a failure of inter-governmental cooperation. Eskom has now issued a warning that if the matter is not resolved by December 2025, the powerline—and the entire water upgrade—will be cancelled.
The DA has repeatedly acted in the interests of the people:
• Submitted multiple letters to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) – all of which have been ignored.
• Delivered a community petition to the KZN Legislature – only for it to be rejected by the leadership.
• Attempted parliamentary oversight, which was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Welcomed the formation of a Ministerial Task Team – which was disbanded following the 2024 elections.
This crisis is not just an infrastructure failure, it is a humanitarian disaster affecting basic sanitation, public health, and livelihoods. Political inaction must no longer stand in the way of service delivery.
Residents can sign the petition here: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/umtamvuna-water-supply
The people of Umtamvuna deserve better. The DA demands accountability, water, and action—now.