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eThekwini Cracks Down on Illegal Water Connections Amid Protests
Illegal water connections in Durban’s informal settlements have become a flashpoint between residents and the eThekwini Municipality, exposing the strain between those desperate for access and those paying for services in formal homes.
A Precedent the City Cannot Ignore
City Manager Musa Mbhele told the municipality’s Executive Committee this week that illegal connections were setting a dangerous precedent. He warned that paying households in formal areas were being prejudiced while others tapped into main water lines without consequence.
Mbhele described how he personally encountered the problem near King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi. Water had flooded nearby homes after a pipe was broken to create an illegal link. The culprit was arrested and charged. Mbhele insisted that swift action is necessary to stop foreign residents from following suit.
Bottlebrush and Beyond
The municipality’s Water and Sanitation Unit confirmed that illegal connections were recently removed from a trunk line at the Bottlebrush informal settlement in Chatsworth. The removal sparked protests on Monday, with residents blocking roads and stoning vehicles over their lack of supply.
In response, three static tanks have been placed in the area, which will be filled by municipal tankers. Similar measures are being taken in Nagina and KwaXimba, where illegal connections have also been discovered.
Democratic Alliance EXCO member Yogis Govender has demanded clearer plans to tackle the problem, noting that while residents in formal houses are fined or prosecuted for tampering with meters, informal settlements face little enforcement.
Safety at Risk
Former Ward 71 councillor Previn Vedan joined engineers and ANC representatives this week on a walkabout through the Sukamuva community. He said the priority was to prevent further protests that could damage infrastructure and disrupt livelihoods.
During the visit, they found residents drawing water directly from a high-pressure reservoir connection, a practice Vedan called extremely dangerous and potentially deadly. Residents agreed to stop after JoJo tanks were made available along the roadside, although many still walk long distances to access them.
Crack Teams and Task Forces
The municipality says a Non-Revenue Water Task Team has been set up to coordinate enforcement. Crack teams have been mobilised to target illegal connections, supported by customer services and metering branches. Mbhele stressed that municipal officials, working with SAPS, have already opened cases and made arrests.
More Than Pipes and Protests
Illegal connections are not just about service delivery; they highlight the growing frustration in communities where infrastructure is slow to arrive. Residents in informal areas feel they have no choice, while paying households fear being left behind.
The city now faces a balancing act: keeping water flowing legally and safely while preventing unrest that can paralyse neighbourhoods. For eThekwini, the question is not just about cutting off pipes, but about rebuilding trust between its communities.
Also read: Johannesburg’s G20 Clean-Up Highlights Safety Concerns Beyond the Summit
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: City of Johannesburg
