Parliament, Monday, 3 August 2026 – The Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings will conduct an oversight visit to uThukela District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal as part of its investigation into a petition submitted by the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) against uThukela Water (Pty) Ltd.
The union petitioned the committee with allegations of racism, irregular procurement processes, and governance failures at uThukela Water. The petition also cites several municipalities that failed to implement the recommendations of a forensic investigation commissioned by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. uThukela Water is a provider of bulk water and sanitation services to three municipalities: Amajuba and uMzinyathi District Municipalities as well as the Newcastle Local Municipality.
The committee expressed concern that the recommendations of the forensic report were not fully implemented and that disciplinary action against implicated officials was not carried out and that the matter has remained unresolved for several years.
The committee will receive updates from key stakeholders on progress made in addressing concerns raised in the petition. It will also engage with representatives of uThukela Water, as well as the executive leadership of the affected municipalities, to determine what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations contained in the forensic report.
The committee expects to meet with the executive mayors and municipal managers of the uThukela District Municipality, Amajuba District Municipality, uMzinyathi District Municipality, and Newcastle Local Municipality, together with the Board of uThukela Water (Pty) Ltd.
Details of the visit are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2026
Time: 10:00 – 13:00
Venue: uThukela Water, 79 Harding Street, Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Mr Jabulani Majozi
Cell: 083 358 5224
Email: jamajozi@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour