Note to Editors: Please find attached Sithembiso-Ngema-English-Soundbite and Sithembiso-Ngema-IsiZulu-Soundbite
Over the past two days, the message reaching the Democratic Alliance from communities across Estcourt, Emahashini, eWembezi and KwaHlathikhulu has been painfully consistent: People want water.
The people I met this weekend are not asking for luxury. They are asking the government to do the basics. Turn on the taps. Fix the infrastructure. Account for the money.
Our message to the IFP-led uThukela District Municipality is equally simple: We will not plead with government to provide a basic service. We will hold it accountable for delivering it.
This crisis cannot be dismissed as another temporary interruption.
In August 2025, KZN COGTA announced a formal intervention after acknowledging severe capacity constraints within uThukela’s ability to fulfil its water and sanitation obligations. A due diligence assessment found the water infrastructure in unsatisfactory condition, due to inadequate maintenance and vandalism.
A year later, communities remain without reliable water.
This week, residents from Steadville, Tsakane and Acaciavale reportedly descended on uThukela’s offices after enduring more than two weeks without reliable water.
In May, Estcourt itself reportedly endured almost two weeks of dry taps before outside intervention helped restore supply.
Even uThukela’s own leadership has acknowledged the depth of the problem. The municipality’s website states that township residents struggle to receive a stable water supply lasting even a week and that some rural communities have lost hope in functional water schemes.
How many more acknowledgements, interventions and promises must communities endure before water actually comes out of their taps?
The DA also wants transparency around water tankers. Residents deserve to know how much is being spent, who benefits from these contracts and why emergency water provision remains necessary year after year.
Water tankers cannot become a permanent substitute for functioning infrastructure.
The DA will continue applying political pressure until uThukela residents receive the reliable water supply they deserve.
We will not beg for water. We will demand accountability for it.