Durban is losing 65% of its water. It’s time to fix the pipe, not the story.

A Democratic Alliance plan to put water back in Durban’s taps — not tankers. Ten concrete steps. No sacred cows.

This isn’t a drought. It’s a governance failure.

Ten years ago Durban’s water losses stood at roughly 33%. Today they exceed 65% — among the worst of any major South African metro. Cape Town, by comparison, loses about 24%. The city is paying to purchase water that never reaches its customers.

Every rand of lost water is money down the drain:

The municipality loses water through two main channels: illegal connections and tankering operations, and direct leaks from ageing, unmaintained infrastructure. Residents are asked to conserve while the bulk of the waste happens before water ever reaches a household meter.

The DA’s EThekwini Mayoral Candidate, Haniff Hoosen and DA canvassers took the plan directly to residents across the metro — because a recovery plan only means something if the people it’s meant to help have seen it and can hold the party to it.

The 10-point water recovery plan

• Invest R10 billion to rebuild the water network, by repairing and replacing failing infrastructure
• Ring-fence all trading-services revenue and prohibit cross-subsidising water revenue to unrelated municipal functions. Money collected for water must be spent on water.
• Set clear, measurable targets for senior managers on reducing losses, repairing leaks and improving response times 
• Partner with municipalities that have successfully cut water losses
• Establish urgent partnerships with experienced engineering, technology and infrastructure companies
• Investigate the “water mafia”. No political connections. No protected officials. No sacred cows.
• Every rand saved through reduced losses is ring-fenced and reinvested — into pipe replacement, reticulation upgrades, reservoir improvements and further leak-reduction.
• Attract experienced water engineers, project managers and technicians. Durban needs engineers who can fix the system — not bureaucrats who can explain why it can’t be fixed.
• Attract experienced water engineers, project managers and technicians. Durban needs engineers who can fix the system — not bureaucrats who can explain why it can’t be fixed.
• Build a rapid-response repair force, new vehicles, plant and equipment, plus additional skilled plumbers
• Use technology to find leaks before they become disasters

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Sign the petition, Taps Not Tankers.