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The DA in uMgungundlovu has written to the District Speaker, Nomathemba Gabela, to request for timelines and funding details for the replacement of Asbestos cement (AC) pipes.

The 82% of the total water losses in uMgungundlovu district could be mitigated by replacing the aged AC pipeline. This would generate more than 50% additional revenue for the municipality to carry out other service delivery mandates. This additional revenue would also provide some relief to residents who end up having to foot the bill for these losses through tariff increases every year.

The last meaningful progress to replace these pipes was during phase one of the uMgungundlovu AC pipes replacement plan which replaced the pipes in the Hilton area and some areas of Howick back in 2017. Phase two (2) of this plan has been on a standstill with the scope of work remaining requiring R746 million (pre-inflation).

AC pipes are potentially hazardous and can be carcinogenic. The World Health Organization (WHO) therefore called for their use to be stopped. These pipes are no longer in production and if there are bursts, equivalents are required which are hard to source. These equivalents then have to be clamped on which is a short-term solution and leads to more bursts thus non-revenue water.

These pipes are a ticking time bomb as their life span is +/- 35 years, beyond this they become unreliable and can break with some micro residues making their way to the glasses of residents thus risking their health because of the carcinogenic nature of asbestos base materials. It is clear that the replacement of AC pipes should be a priority for the municipality, but this is however not the case.

This is an urgent matter and the DA will continue to hold the ANC accountable on their dismal track record on service delivery

Issued by Councillor Siphesihle Zondi - DA uMgungundlovu Caucus Chairperson