Deputy minister warns eThekwini sewage spills must not be normalised after oversight visits

Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Jack Bloom said pollution of rivers and water resources in eThekwini must not be treated as normal after a two-day oversight visit to the metro to assess wastewater infrastructure and reported spills.

Inspections across treatment works and rivers

Bloom carried out inspections on 20 and 21 August, visiting the Phoenix Wastewater Treatment Works, the eZimbokodweni River in the Amanzimtoti Golf Club area, and the Southern Wastewater Treatment Works in Merebank. The Department of Water and Sanitation said the inspections examined reported pollution and sewage spills and assessed the condition and performance of the wastewater infrastructure.

Call for action and enforcement

The department quoted Bloom stressing that pollution must not be normalised and that oversight should lead to implementation. In a statement, the department said:

“The deputy minister emphasised that pollution of rivers and other water resources cannot be allowed to become normalised and requires urgent corrective action.”

Bloom also said oversight could not end with identifying problems. The department reported his remark:

“An oversight visit must lead to action, and where directives have been issued, we need to see implementation and appropriate enforcement where required.”

Engagement with affected communities

During the visit Bloom met residents in Verulam through the Verulam Water Crisis Committee and engaged with affected residents in Buffelsdraai. The department said these meetings allowed him to weigh community concerns alongside municipal information and inspection findings.

Municipal response and local repairs

Separately, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba led a water and sanitation operation in KwaMashu to address damaged sewer infrastructure. According to a municipal Facebook statement, teams began unblocking manholes and repairing broken sewer lines in Sections E, M, K, Siyanda and J while the mayor visited.

The municipality said some issues were resolved immediately and that teams would remain in KwaMashu for more complex repairs before moving to other areas.

Plumbers’ dispute resolved to allow work to continue

The visits took place days after the municipality said Mayor Xaba helped resolve a long-running pay dispute with the city’s plumbers. Under the agreement, the hourly rates for the three categories of plumbers remained unchanged and the 15% management fee would no longer be deducted from their pay, a change the municipality said plumbers welcomed.

Xaba said the resolution would allow plumbers to resume work under the city’s five main contractors and begin addressing the service delivery backlog, according to the municipal statement.

Department to monitor progress

The Department of Water and Sanitation said Bloom committed to following up with its Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Unit on directives previously issued to eThekwini and on what action remained necessary to address non-compliance. The department added it would continue monitoring progress and engaging with the municipality to strengthen wastewater management and accountability.