By Thapelo Molefe
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has accused the Emfuleni Local Municipality of gross mismanagement after revelations that the municipality lost 16.4 million kilolitres of treated water in the 2024/25 financial year, valued at more than R880 million, despite spending R57 million on contractors to repair leaks.
The DA said the information came to light through a written reply from Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Jacob Mamabolo, to questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
According to the opposition party, Emfuleni paid 11 service providers to plug leaks, but the municipality continues to lose massive volumes of water every day due to leaks in ageing infrastructure.
The party has since asked the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate the municipality, saying that residents’ constitutional right to access water and sanitation is being violated.
“It is scandalous that Emfuleni claims to have
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 in Gauteng has accused the Emfuleni Local Municipality of gross mismanagement.){kind=link}