eThekwini to invest billions in sanitation improvements for economic growth

The eThekwini Municipality plans to invest between R12.5 billion and R16.5 billion over the next decade to improve sanitation, restore system reliability, ensure compliance, and unlock economic growth.

Sibusiso Vilane, a senior member of the eThekwini Sanitation Directorate, presented the investment plan at the eThekwini Executive Committee on Wednesday.

Vilane highlighted that the sanitation system in eThekwini is under growing strain due to factors such as rapid population increase, migration, urbanisation, and the deterioration of existing assets.

The municipality will focus on Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs), sewer networks, pump stations, alternative sanitation, and operational modernisation.

Some of the investments include: 

• Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs): R4 billion to R6 billion.
• Sewer networks (rehabilitation and expansion): R5 billion to R7 billion.
• Pump stations (refurbishment and upgrades): R2 billion to R3 billion. 
• Alternative sanitation and informal settlement upgrades: R1 billion to R2 billion.
• Digitalisation and Smart Systems (Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Telemetry): R500 million`.

“Some of the wastewater treatment works are operating close to design capacity and may not be able to handle additional capacity from housing and private developments. Treatment works are also affected by ageing infrastructure, mainly mechanical and electrical equipment.”

Vilane said R4 billion was also required for capacity upgrades, sludge management improvements, effluent compliance, process optimisation, and energy efficiency.

“It is critical to protect waterways and support new housing and industrial developments,” he said. 

The municipality plans to allocate an investment of R5 billion to R7 billion towards improving the sewer network. This substantial budget will cover essential work such as pipe replacement, structural rehabilitation, and the removal of pollution hotspots to address the network's condition and needs.

Vilane highlighted that many pump stations face reliability issues due to ageing equipment.

He said investments will be made to install standby power systems, automation, and telemetry integration, and also security and vandalism protection. 

He said the rapidly growing informal settlements require improved sanitation solutions, with priority given to: 

• Communal ablution facility refurbishment.
• Decentralised sanitation technologies.
• On-site sanitation improvements.
• Regular servicing and maintenance.

The municipality will also invest R500 million in digitisation and smart sanitation technologies.

“Municipal operations require modern, digital tools. Reliable sanitation is a catalyst for economic development. It enables large-scale housing developments and township revitalisation. It also attracts foreign and domestic investment in manufacturing, logistics, tourism, and port-related sectors,” Vilane said. 

He added that the municipality’s investments will protect key environmental and tourism assets, including rivers, estuaries, and beaches.

Vilane said that the investment will reduce sewer pollution incidents and safeguard public health, as well as support climate resilience and sustainable urban development.

“A sanitation department operating as a high-performance business unit will garner a strong community trust through improved service delivery. These investments are critical to environmental protection, economic growth, and service delivery improvement. A unified, long-term funding strategy is essential to unlock eThekwini’s full development potential.” 

Zandile Myeni, deputy mayor of eThekwini, said the city was moving in the right direction.

“We urge the department to continue to accelerate the work, and we can see the change on the ground. This is what service delivery is about,” she said. 

Nkosenhle Madlala, ANC Exco member, said the report gave councillors a good idea of what they can expect going forward. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za