Repairs to water pipeline no. 53 in Pietermaritzburg, which supplies approximately 30 megalitres of water per day, are expected to be completed by Saturday.
uMngeni-uThukela Water is undertaking the repairs after a burst on the pipeline a week ago near Willowton Road. The pipeline supplies water from the DV Harris Waterworks to the Umlaas Road Reservoirs and onwards to the eThekwini Municipality.
eThekwini Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba, who visited the repair site on Wednesday, said that he was satisfied with the progress uMngeni-uThukela Water is making.
Speaking at the site, Xaba commended the teams for working tirelessly since the burst was discovered.
“I am confident that by the end of this week, the repairs will have been finalised. We expect the water supply to be fully restored by next week. What made the repairs more difficult is that the pipe is located in private properties, which makes access difficult,” Xaba explained.
The municipality stated that it implemented contingency measures, which include managing the system by closing and opening certain strategic valves along the main Western Aqueduct.
This is being done strategically to push water to the outer-west areas at certain times and then allow the inner-west reservoirs to refill on a rotational basis. In addition, water tankers are deployed to provide relief to affected communities.
uMngeni-uThukela Water’s Chief Operating Officer, Sanele Mazibuko, confirmed that the burst involves an asbestos cement pipe located within a densely developed industrial area in Pietermaritzburg.
He said repair teams had initially experienced access constraints as the damaged section of the pipe was within a private business premises, as well as inclement weather conditions.
“Despite these difficult conditions, our teams have made steady progress. We are confident that repairs will be completed and water supply restored by Saturday, January 10, 2026,” said Mazibuko.
While the 53 pipeline remains temporarily offline, uMngeni-uThukela Water assured the public that the Midmar Waterworks would continue to service the Umlaas Road Reservoirs via an alternative route through the 61 pipeline.
However, consumers in the outer west of eThekwini Municipality and pockets within the uMgungundlovu District may still experience some level of disruption, with areas like Point M, Umbumbulu Reservoir, Eston, Mid Illovo, and Mkhambathini being highlighted as potentially affected nodes.
Affected areas include:
Outer West Region: Botha’s Hill, Alverstone, Inchanga, Drummond, Assagay, Shongweni Westown, Summerveld, Cliffdale, Bucks Farm, and Shongweni Valley.
Inner West Region: Hillcrest, Waterfall, part of Forest Hills, Molweni, Kloof, Stockville Road area, Gillitts, New Germany, Wyebank, KwaDabeka, Padfield Park, Westmead area, Westmead Industrial Area, Marianhill, Marian Heights, Nagina Township (Phases 1 and 2), Tshelimnyama, Mpola, Madiba Valley, part of Nsizwakazi, Dambuza Sithunda, Dassenhoek, part of Thornwood, Sithandu Hills, Masenseni Area, Epitoli kwaLinda, Tshelimnyama Dabe area, Mpola, and part of KwaNdengezi.
North Region: Ntuzuma E Section, Inanda Glebe, Amachobeni, Ohlanga Phase 1 & 2, Langalebale, Dube Village, Tambo Plaza, Stop 8, Amaotana reservoir, eTufuleni reservoir, Inanda Congo area, Inanda Newtown A section, and Amaotana.
