23 schools in KZN’s Msunduzi face water cuts over R32 million debt

The Msunduzi Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has cut water services to 23 schools in Pietermaritzburg due to a combined debt of over R32 million.

The municipality says disconnection notices have been ignored by the Department of Education.

KwaZulu-Natal Education Spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi says the disconnections didn’t affect learning at the schools. He says the debt emanates from illegal water connections by residents surrounding the schools.

Mahlambi says, “The issue of illegal connection is not just a theory but a reality because we’ve been to a number of schools where schools were closed but the meter was running as if learners and teachers were at school.”

“ As the Department of Education, we cannot win this battle alone. There are no children that are staying at home, some of the schools have water arrangements through water tanks. When it comes to electricity, we don’t need electricity that much during the day.”

VIDEO|  Msunduzi Municipality water cuts disrupt schooling: