The latest report from the eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Unit reveals a notable decrease in non-revenue water (NRW), now standing at 52.9%. Although this figure is a 2.9% improvement from the previous financial year’s 55.8%, NRW continues to pose a considerable challenge for local authorities, intertwining issues of illegal water access, infrastructure deficiencies, and funding obstacles.

During an Executive Committee (Exco) meeting held on Tuesday, Jabulani Mayise, the acting deputy head of the eThekwini Municipality Water and Sanitation (EWS) Unit, underscored the municipality’s commitment to addressing the NRW concerns as well as their persistent funding challenges. He disclosed that strategic initiatives are underway, focusing on the replacement of aged water meters and procurement of specialised vehicles aimed at enhancing the efficiency of NRW plumbers.

Mayise applauded the creation of the eThekwini NRW nerve centre dedicated to water analytics, which aims to streamline operations and pinpoint leaks. To bolster these efforts, the municipality has already acquired 132 vehicles, with plans to procure an additional 44 by February 2026, dedicated to the NRW initiative.