Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts in this claim come from
Every fact on the claim page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What does the evidence show?
Why it is Verified
Wastewater treatment works clean sewage before the water is let out. The Auditor-General has reported serious breaks of environment laws at eThekwini every year since 2021-22. When the water is not clean enough, it can pollute rivers. The Auditor-General passed two pollution cases to the water department. Both were still being looked into in May 2026.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 280 (printed page 276), paragraph beginning 'We again identified shortcomings in the maintenance of infrastructure': 'Wastewater treatment works in eThekwini Metro and City of uMhlathuze ... continued to discharge non-compliant wastewater without it being addressed', requiring action under the AG's enhanced powers after an earlier MI. PDF page 177 (printed page 173): 'Wastewater treatment works did not have operating licences at Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung and eThekwini'; material environmental findings every year since 2021-22 at eThekwini. PDF page 323 (printed page 319), Department of Water and Sanitation referrals table (starts on PDF page 322): eThekwini Metro, 'Pollution of water resource (Umbilo wastewater treatment works)' and '(Northern wastewater treatment works)', referral date 14 April 2025, 'Investigation in progress' as at 26 May 2026.
What did the council do, and when?
Who ran the council
Mayor: Cyril Xaba (ANC). Council run by ANC, IFP, National Freedom Party. From Jul 2024 to present.
EWN. Published 10 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 ('has been elected as the new mayor of the eThekwini Metro Municipality'); paragraph 3 ('elected unopposed in a special council meeting')
The Mercury. Published 12 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 4 ('ANC-designated Cyril Xaba'); paragraph 5 ('the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP, who already have a working arrangement at provincial level, extend this arrangement at a municipal level'); paragraph 6 (speaker ANC, deputy mayor NFP, MPAC EFF). Paragraph 1 is the article's first line after the photo caption.
Daily Maverick. Published 10 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 13 ('In Exco, the ANC has four members, the DA three, the IFP one and the other is from the National Freedom Party')
Sunday Times. Published 28 August 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 (the DA in KwaZulu-Natal 'will continue to occupy opposition benches in eThekwini'); paragraph 2 (DA-ANC coalition talks deadlocked); paragraph 6 (the DA 'was satisfied with its role of opposition in the metro')
Daily News. Published 9 September 2024.
Where to look: Counting 'Durban — Despite working well...' as paragraph 1: paragraph 1 (the DA turned down the ANC's request to work together in eThekwini); paragraph 6 (the IFP's Mdu Nkosi chairs the Trading Services committee); paragraph 8 (Macpherson: 'in the best interests of the residents to remain in opposition')
The Mercury. Published 31 March 2025.
Where to look: Paragraph 2 ('The IFP is part of a government of unity in the city and leads the Trading Services committee'; 'The party said it took exception to claims that, by virtue of being part of the governance structure, it is running the municipality'); paragraph 6 (IFP councillor Jonathan Annipen: 'This municipality is not run by the ANC and IFP alone' and 'just one Exco seat and a caucus of 17 members'). Paragraph 1 is the first paragraph after the standfirst and photo credit ('The IFP in the eThekwini Municipality is pushing back...').
Daily Maverick. Published 14 October 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 54 (claim by the IFP: 'Hlengwa lashed out at Hoosen for being in opposition in eThekwini but also occupying three of the city's executive committee seats'). Paragraph 1 is the first body paragraph ('Pollsters are predicting a major shake-up...'), after the standfirst and photo credits; section headings are not counted.
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