The UThukela District Municipality has resolved to take the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality (Estcourt) to court to stop it from disconnecting the power supply to vital water infrastructure.

The move comes after the local municipality demanded immediate payment of a historic debt exceeding R80 million.

Notably, both municipalities are governed by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), with Inkosi Langalibalele falling within the UThukela district.

The district municipality argues that complying with the demand, which insists on settling the historic debt of over 10 years within six months, would cripple its finances and put the lives of residents at risk, expose patients in local hospitals to serious health risks, force schools to close and negatively impact local businesses.

“The said municipality demands an immediate payment of over R80 million over a historic debt of over 10 years to be paid in 6 months. Municipalities such as Inkosi Langalibalele and UThukela District are a sphere of government, relying on National Government for funds in order to operate, sustain and provide services. It therefore raises serious concerns that another sphere of government, can demand a payment of R80 million, to be paid in 6 months, whereas the municipality’s financial situation is in dire condition.

“Simply put, if the UThukela District Municipality were to accede to the illegal demand by Inkosi Langalibalele to pay, now R50 million after the municipality was illegally pressured to pay R30 million in August 2025, it would simply be impossible for the municipality to operate further. While the municipality goes to court on an urgent basis to safeguard residents access to water and sanitation services, the municipality has convened high level meetings with the Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality,” the uThukela district municipality said in a statement.

It is not yet clear whether the Inkosi Langalibalele will oppose the application or not.