The eThekwini Municipality is facing a severe water crisis, with Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reaching 65% in July 2026, indicating significant water losses due to leaks.Over 12,000 leaks have been reported, exacerbating the challenge of providing clean water to residents.

The situation is compounded by a dispute with contracted plumbers, who blocked access to the EWS Pinetown Depot over unpaid invoices and new procurement processes.

Councillors like Samantha Windvogel highlighted that the annual average NRW is 55%, with July's figure far exceeding the national benchmark, raising concerns about service delivery.

The municipality is implementing a new Contractor-Initiated Procurement (CIP) model to address the shortage of plumbers, but unresolved issues persist.Despite efforts to onboard subcontractors under managing contractors, disputes continue, with some former contractors demanding direct contracts.The crisis has left residents frustrated, as clean water flows into storm drains while communities face shortages.The municipality condemned the unlawful blocking of depots, emphasizing the need for resolving disputes to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.