GroundUp exposed how at least two water truck drivers hired by Multi Solutions Trading had sold water in the Adams Mission area. (Tsoanelo Sefoloko/GroundUp)
- Almost five months ago, the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality pledged to investigate the illegal sale of water to its residents by one of its water truck contractors.
- Since then, there has been no update on the investigation and the municipality refuses to comment.
- The municipality recently pledged to add 100 water trucks to its fleet by December to meet water supply demands.
Five months since the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality promised to investigate the illegal sale of water by one of its water truck contractors, it has not released official information to the public or given any updates on how the investigation is proceeding.
Earlier this year, GroundUp sent the municipality proof of how the drivers of a tender company were illegally selling water to desperate eThekwini residents.
In response, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said “the matter has been reported to the relevant unit and will be investigated”, GroundUp reported.
In March and in May, GroundUp exposed how at least two water truck drivers hired by Multi Solutions Trading had sold water in the Adams Mission area.
In October 2023, Multi Solutions Trading won a tender to supply water trucks and drivers to deliver water to areas with limited or no running water across eThekwini.
READ | Sabotage: How ‘water tanker mafias’ are exploiting KwaZulu-Natal’s water woes
Contacted in June for an update on the investigation, Sisilana refused to comment, saying: “The municipality does not investigate and conclude its investigations through the media.”
GroundUp received the same response in September.
Pressed further, Sisilana referred the publication to the municipality’s website.
The driver of this truck acknowledged selling municipal water that was meant to be delivered free of charge to households in Adams Mission. (Tsoanelo Sefoloko/GroundUp)
GroundUp
To date, however, the website’s tender records have no update regarding any new or cancelled water truck tenders.
Simphiwe Mzimela, who runs Multi Solutions Trading, refused to answer questions, having taken issue with GroundUp’s previous article.
READ | Water-starved eThekwini families are being charged for ‘free’ municipal water
A recent joint press statement by uMngeni-uThukela Water and the eThekwini metro states that the municipality plans to procure 100 water tankers by December 2024 to eliminate the need for hiring water trucks.
The procurement tender is yet to be awarded.
Asked why the municipality was buying more water trucks instead of fixing its water issues, Sisilana listed several projects to upgrade and fix water supply infrastructure.
These include the upgrading of water treatment works such as Ogunjini, Mkhizwana and uThongathi, as well as reservoir upgrades and refurbishments at KwaNdengezi, Onwabi, Mobeni and Thandokuhle.
The budget for repairs and maintenance to rehabilitate water infrastructure is R509 million, according to Sisilana.
