The eThekwini municipality has not confirmed whether it disconnected water and electricity services to public schools at the start of the 2026 academic year.

However, Inkatha Freedom Party: eThekwini Councillor Dr Jonathan Annipen stated on Wednesday that he was informed of these disconnections and regards this conduct as constitutionally indefensible, administratively reckless, and socially irresponsible.

According to the eThekwini Finance Committee report, the total outstanding debt as at December 31, 2025, was R43 billion. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (DoE), section 21 schools owed R336 million, while section 20 schools owed R537m to the municipality. 

While the IFP acknowledges that revenue collection is paramount for the financial sustainability of the city, Annipen said that this objective cannot and must not be pursued at the expense of learners’ constitutional rights. 

He said that schools cannot fulfil this mandate in the absence of water and electricity.

“The interruption of these essential services fundamentally undermines teaching and learning. It delays curriculum implementation and erodes the academic stability required at the start of the school year. It also inflicts serious psychological harm, lowering the morale of both educators and learners who return to school expecting a functional and dignified learning environment,” Annipen stated. 

The IFP maintains that where disputes exist regarding outstanding accounts, the city is duty-bound to negotiate directly with the KZN DoE.

“Schools cannot be used as instruments of coercion in intergovernmental billing disputes. Cooperative governance, as envisaged in Chapter 3 of the Constitution, requires dialogue, negotiated settlements, and service continuity—especially where vulnerable groups such as children are affected,” Annipen stated. 

Accordingly, the IFP calls on the KZN DoE to act immediately by settling outstanding obligations and entering into binding payment agreements with the municipality to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to schools.

“The denial of basic services to schools constitutes a potential violation of children’s rights and warrants independent oversight. The IFP reiterates its unwavering commitment to defending public education, constitutional governance, and the dignity of learners and educators. Education is a constitutional imperative, not a bargaining tool. The city must act immediately,” Annipen stated. 

The eThekwini municipality stated that it does not discuss customer account information with a third party. They also did not confirm how many schools were disconnected. 

eThekwini municipality’s marketing and communications director, Mandla Nsele stated that all customers, including government departments, are expected to settle their accounts. 

Where arrears exist, disconnections are implemented in accordance with municipality’s Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy.

“These measures are standard practice and are applied consistently to ensure financial sustainability and the continued provision of municipal services to all customers,” he said.

The KZN DoE did not respond to the media at the time of publishing. 

A Section 20 school in South Africa refers to a public school whose finances and resource procurement are centrally managed by the provincial education department, rather than the school itself, contrasting with Section 21 schools that manage their own funds and can charge fees.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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