The findings of the forensic investigation into allegations of corruption in the procurement of the Zakheni Water Station pumps in July 2023 will be tabled by the UThukela District Municipality on Thursday.
The pipes were removed and replaced even though they were not damaged, sparking allegations of corruption and self enrichment against some officials.
Officials from the municipality claimed that the pumps were damaged during the April 2022 floods and had to be replaced at a huge cost to the financially struggling municipality, which is under administration.
The investigation was initiated after the DA, a coalition partner of the IFP in the municipality, blew the whistle and alleged that the six pumps supplied by APE Pumps were not damaged and questioned why they were removed from the site.
The whistleblower in the matter, Councillor Thys Janse van Rensburg from the DA said Umgeni-uThukela Water used APE Pumps, a South African manufacturer. APE raised flags over the removal of these pumps, citing that they had monitored them remotely via telemetry and confirmed that the pumps incurred no damage during the April 2022 floods.
APE also complained that it was not afforded the opportunity to inspect these pumps as provided for in the warrantee agreement. These pumps that had been installed in 2019, had only been in service for just over three years despite a projected 30-year lifespan as confirmed by APE pumps.
Adding insult to injury, uThukela District continues to bear the financial burden of this loss, with the facility’s cost contributing to an unpaid debt of R200 million owed to Umgeni-uThukela Water—a debt that grows as service delivery collapses.
“The theft triggered years of water shedding, forcing over 70 000 residents to endure dry taps and rely on expensive water trucks. This disruption severely damaged the articulation system in Umnambithi/Ladysmith, where the constant emptying and refilling of pipelines caused pressure shocks, leading to numerous ongoing pipe bursts… The DA is confident that the weight of the evidence—detailing the extent of corruption, the identities of those involved, and the systemic failures that enabled this scandal—will compel the majority of councillors to adopt the recommendations in their entirety,” Janse van Rensburg said.
In a letter dated 7 March 2025, KwaZulu-Natal Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi instructed the Speaker of the council, Lihle Nqubuka to convene a sitting to discuss the report and map a way forward on how they would implement all its recommendations.
Some of the recommendations include hauling some officials over the coals and recovering monies that were paid to companies like RASP Consultants CC.
The UThukela District Municipality did not comment when it was asked about the council sitting to table and discuss the Zakheni Water Pumps report.
