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Durban schools plunged into crisis as unpaid bills trigger water and power cuts
For many families across Durban, the school year has barely settled into rhythm. Yet in parts of eThekwini, pupils are already learning under extraordinary strain. Water tanks now stand in for running taps. Classrooms sit without proper ventilation. Printers are silent.
Several schools in the eThekwini Municipality have had their water and electricity disconnected because of unpaid municipal bills. The situation has ignited frustration among governing bodies, parents, and political leaders, all asking the same question: how did it come to this?
Assegai Primary: A weekend water cut
At Assegai Primary School in Wentworth, the water supply was disconnected on Saturday, disrupting teaching this week.
Andre de Bruin, chairperson of the school’s governing body, says the school has had to rely on JoJo tanks to flush toilets while parents have been urged to send children to school with extra drinking water.
De Bruin argues that Assegai is classified as a Section 20 school, meaning its utility bills fall under the responsibility of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education rather than the school itself. According to him, both current and previous principals were unaware of the outstanding account.
He also described confusion within the municipality about the distinction between Section 20 and Section 21 schools. Section 21 schools receive funding directly and manage their own finances. Section 20 schools have their budgets administered by the provincial department.
When the governing body visited the Durban Department of Education head office on Tuesday to seek clarity, they found it closed.
The department responds
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has acknowledged that disconnections have taken place. Spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi confirmed that engagements with municipalities over payment arrangements are ongoing. He added that even two departmental head offices have experienced disconnections.
The standoff appears rooted in deep financial strain. According to a municipal debt collection report, eThekwini is owed R43 billion. Government departments account for R2 billion of that amount, with provincial departments responsible for R1.6 billion.
The Department of Education owes R537 million for Section 20 schools and offices, while Section 21 schools collectively owe R336 million.
The municipality has also stated that water supplied to schools via tankers has not been paid for by the department.
Phoenix schools hit hard
The impact has been particularly visible in Phoenix and surrounding areas.
On 27 January 2026, electricity was disconnected at Phoenix Pioneer Primary School. Daily operations were severely affected. Without power, there was no ventilation during extreme heat. Teachers could not print or photocopy learning materials. Refrigeration for the National School Nutrition Programme was compromised. Even the safe storage of diabetic medication for learners and staff became a concern.
Other affected schools and their reported outstanding amounts include:
• Solomon Mahlangu Primary School in Cornubia, R663,000
• Ikusaslentsha Primary School in Inanda, R79,000
• Zeoh Dlomo High School in KwaMashu, R60,933
• Ferndale Secondary School in Phoenix, R1.1 million
Dr Jonathan Annipen, an IFP councillor in eThekwini, has publicly condemned the disconnections. He claimed that in some cases, officials forcibly removed meters and wiring to ensure complete cut-offs. He has called for immediate reconnections and a negotiated payment framework between the municipality and the provincial department.
In response, eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele stated that the department was informed before disconnections were carried out, in line with municipal credit control and debt collection policy. He said the department failed to sign an acknowledgement of debt or enter into a payment agreement. According to Mbhele, regional offices are disconnected first, and if there is no response, schools follow.
Children caught in the middle
In a province already grappling with infrastructure challenges, the optics are troubling. Schools are not businesses. They are spaces meant to protect and nurture children. When taps run dry and lights go off, the consequences go beyond inconvenience.
Parents in affected communities have taken to WhatsApp groups and local forums, voicing anger and disbelief that education is being disrupted over administrative disputes. For many, it feels like children are paying the price for financial mismanagement and bureaucratic breakdowns.
As the municipality prepares to table a full report at its next Executive Committee meeting, communities are watching closely. What families want is not political sparring, but certainty. Lights on. Water running. Classrooms functioning.
Because in Durban, as in the rest of the country, education is not a line item. It is a lifeline.
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Source: IOL
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