GQEBERHA – Ongoing water leaks and sewage overflows in Bethelsdorp are raising concerns among residents, even as the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality says it is intensifying efforts to repair leaks across the metro during the ongoing drought.
According to records shared with the PE Express, dozens of water-related faults have been reported in the area since October 2025.
These include 54 service leaks, six underground leaks and five burst pipes at various addresses across the area.
Ward 35 councillor, Noeleen Moodley, said the issue has become a daily frustration for residents and her office, with complaints continuing to come in.
“Every day, residents come to our office to either report water leaks or sewage leaks,” Moodley said.
She added that in some cases plumbers attend sites, but the problems are not properly resolved.
“Residents complain that plumbers come out to look at the problems and really do not repair the leaks, but the next minute the reference numbers are closed,” she explained.
Moodley said she is particularly concerned about a sewage overflow near a local school.
“A sewerage drain is overflowing. It is a big problem in our area; sewage is flowing past Astra Primary, right down the street. The smell is terrible, and it is unhealthy. We keep reporting the issue; they say they will be sending someone,” she said.
According to Moodley, residents are also being told that reported issues have been escalated.
“We call the Call Centre, they say they have escalated the issue,” she shared.
The councillor expressed frustration about delays in repairs and uncertainty around contractor availability.
“As the ward councillor, I’m so frustrated. I went to three places this morning to check how far it is, but it is still not done yet. We are waiting for the service provider; they know there is no one to send,” she said.
Moodley also questioned how repairs are signed off.
“Nobody signs things off because it is not properly fixed,” she said.
Meanwhile, the municipality says leak repairs remain a key priority as the city faces severe and prolonged drought conditions.
In a recent statement, the metro said it is intensifying its response to water leaks as part of its drought mitigation programme.
“The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is intensifying its response to water leaks across the metro as part of its drought mitigation programme and broader efforts to reduce water losses under severe and prolonged drought conditions,” the municipality said.
The municipality added that it is in the final stages of appointing additional plumbing contractors to supplement existing municipal teams.
“This additional capacity is intended to accelerate leak repairs, increase weekly completions, and stabilise the system while longer-term infrastructure renewal continues,” the statement said.
Between 1 July 2025 and mid-February 2026, the municipality reported receiving more than 25,000 water leak complaints, with around 73% resolved. However, thousands of leaks remain outstanding across the metro.
Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe acknowledged the seriousness of water losses.
“We are deeply concerned about every litre of water lost in a city facing severe and prolonged drought,” she said.
“The reality is that we are operating under immense pressure, with ageing infrastructure and very limited resources, but we want to assure residents that within these constraints, the Municipality is working relentlessly to stabilise the system, reduce losses, and protect water supply for communities.”
The municipality said leak numbers change daily as new faults are reported while others are repaired, adding that teams prioritise major water losses and infrastructure risks.
For residents in Ward 35, however, Moodley says the ongoing leaks and sewage problems remain a pressing concern.
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