Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is appointing additional plumbers to address a surge in water leak complaints, which rose from 4,000 in January to 6,770 in February. Dam levels supplying the area have dropped to 34.31%. Officials highlight a shortage of engineers as a key barrier to fixing the ageing infrastructure.
The Nelson Mandela Bay metro faces escalating water challenges, with reported leaks increasing sharply amid declining dam levels. Buyelwa Mafaya, the political head for infrastructure, acknowledged that the municipality lacks sufficient engineering capacity to manage the backlog effectively. Water losses reached 60.39% in the first half of the 2025/26 financial year, partly due to 4,700km of ageing underground pipes.
Mafaya noted that responses to leak complaints take seven to 10 working days, far exceeding the ideal three days, with township areas most affected. 'If we want to win the war on water leaks, we first need to have engineers who will be able to give us clear directions; for me, this would be the permanent solution,' she stated. The municipality has turned to contractors to handle repairs, but Mafaya described the issue as a 'moving target' because of deteriorating infrastructure, where fixes on one pipe often lead to bursts nearby.
Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya explained that the rise in reported leaks stems from better detection, public reporting, and drought stress on the system, aligning with the approved Drought Mitigation Plan. The metro is advancing the appointment of more plumbing contractors, with the process at the objections committee stage as of 18 February, expecting hires within four weeks. Recruitment for vacant plumber and artisan posts is underway.
Broader concerns were raised by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, who addressed the African Union on 13 February 2026 about South Africa's struggles with Sustainable Development Goal 6. She pointed to funding gaps, governance issues, and climate impacts as major hurdles, noting that while 85% of households have piped water access, reliability has declined due to insufficient infrastructure investment.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, led by CEO Denise van Huyssteen, expressed alarm over losses exceeding 50%, despite over 500 repairs in the past week. She warned of risks to economic growth and investment from unreliable supply, potentially leading to water shedding and restrictions. The chamber is considering reviving its Adopt A Leak programme but emphasized the need for municipal-led systemic fixes.
Mafaya announced a strategic stakeholder meeting next week and an upcoming discussion with Majodina on funding, including concerns over redirected grants. She welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's commitment to chair the National Water Crisis Committee, viewing it as a positive national step.
