The Democratic Alliance (DA) in uMgungundlovu District, has written to Mayor Mzi Zuma to request that he acts immediately to prioritise the delivery of water and sanitation services, and put an end to this humanitarian crisis.
This follows the DA’s oversight visit to Mpophomeni, wards 8 and 9, where we found a community devastated by years without reliable access to water. UMgungundlovu district municipality is the water service provider to uMngeni, uMshwathi, Mkhambathini, Mpofana, Richmond and Impendle local municipalities.
In the meantime, residents are forced to rely on water tankers that arrive sporadically and fill JoJo tanks placed far from many households.
Despite the presence of a large reservoir on the hill above their homes, residents’ taps remain dry. The reservoir is often either empty or overflowing and flooding nearby yards – clear evidence of severe mismanagement of infrastructure.
The Constitution is clear: water is a basic human right. No one should have to walk long distances to access water, and no community should be left without water for more than seven days in a year. Yet, under the ANC-run uMgungundlovu District Municipality, these fundamental rights are violated daily.
This is not an isolated case. Across all six municipalities where uMgungundlovu is the water services authority, countless communities face the same neglect. Instead of prioritising water and sanitation – the municipality’s core mandate – funds are wasted on lavish events and costly public relations campaigns.
The ongoing water crisis is the direct result of years of financial mismanagement and neglect of critical infrastructure. Ordinary residents are paying the price with their dignity and their rights.
The people of uMgungundlovu deserve better – Mr Mayor, it’s time to do your job.