When Politics Pulls the Plug: The Real Cost of Durban’s R500 Million Standoff

Durban is caught in the crossfire of a political grudge match with a very tangible price tag: R500 million. A bitter, public war of words between eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba (ANC) and KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works Martin Meyer (DA) over unpaid municipal property rates has escalated from press statements to real-world shutdowns. The result? Critical government officesincluding vehicle licensing centres in Rossburgh and Umdlotihave had their water and electricity cut, paralyzing services for thousands of residents.

The dispute lays bare a toxic blend of inter-governmental failure and raw political point-scoring ahead of the 2026 local elections. Xaba accuses Meyer’s department of hypocrisy, noting the DA criticizes city service delivery while withholding funds that could fix it. “The DA cannot speak from both sides of the mouth,” Xaba charged. The DA fires back, blaming the mayor for “abusing council resources to politicise his failures,” arguing eThekwini’s decay is due to ANC mismanagement.

Analysts: A “Political Game” Where Residents Lose

Political analysts warn this is less about governance and more about electoral maneuvering. “It is a political game of pointing fingers, but the real impact will be felt by the residents,” says Siyabonga Ntombela of UKZN. He fears eroding public trust and worsening cooperation as elections near.

Goodenough Mashego sees the conflict as a proxy battle reflecting the ANC’s desperation to win back urban metros. He clarifies a technical but crucial point: the Department of Public Works owns the buildings, but individual tenant departments (like Transport) are responsible for their own utility bills. This complexity, however, is lost in the political noise.

The Stakes: More Than Just Talk

The fallout is already severe. With licensing centres closed, residents cannot register vehicles or obtain driver’s licences. Further disconnections could disrupt more essential services. The municipality insists it is enforcing standard credit control; the province frames it as political sabotage.

For Durban’s citizens, the feud is a masterclass in how political dysfunction translates directly into failed service delivery. As the 2026 elections loom, analysts agree the trench warfare between the ANC-led city and DA-influenced province will likely intensify, suggesting that the lightsboth literal and metaphoricalmay stay off in key government offices for some time. The only certainty is that the public, not the politicians, will pay the heaviest price for this power clash.