Deputy Minister's oversight visit highlights water and sanitation challenges in eThekwini

The Department of Water and Sanitation will monitor progress on matters raised during an oversight visit to Durban.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) will continue to monitor progress on matters raised during its oversight visit in the eThekwini Municipality last week.

Dr Jack Bloom ,Deputy Minister of DWS, conducted a two-day oversight visit to Durban on August 20 and 21. He said the visits placed water and sanitation service delivery, environmental protection and accountability firmly under the spotlight.

While acknowledging the scale and complexity of the challenges facing eThekwini, Bloom stressed that these cannot become a reason for delays, particularly where communities continue to experience disruptions to basic water and sanitation services, and where failures in wastewater management pose risks to the environment and water resources.

A key focus of the oversight programme was direct engagement with communities affected by water and sanitation challenges. Bloom met the Verulam Water Crisis Committee, where residents raised concerns about water supply and service delivery challenges affecting households and communities.

Bloom also engaged with affected community members in Buffelsdraai, listening to their concerns and gaining first-hand insight into the challenges experienced by residents. The oversight programme included inspections at Phoenix Wastewater Treatment Works, the eZimbokodweni River in the Amanzimtoti Golf Club area, and Southern Wastewater Treatment Works in Merebank.

“We heard directly from communities and ensured that their concerns are considered alongside information provided by municipal officials and findings from the infrastructure inspections,” he said.

Bloom said the inspections focused on reported pollution and sewage spills, the condition and performance of wastewater infrastructure, environmental and water-quality impacts, contributing factors and the interventions required to address identified challenges.

Particular attention was also given to compliance and enforcement, with Bloom committing to follow up with the Department’s Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Unit on directives previously issued and the action required to address cases of non-compliance.

“Oversight visits must go beyond identifying problems and must result in action, accountability, and measurable improvements.