DURBAN - Unpaid water and sanitation contractors in KwaZulu-Natal have vowed to intensify their protest outside the Pinetown depot until their demands are met.
The artisans accuse the eThekwini Municipality of favouritism in public procurement.
They say qualified, experienced contractors are sidelined in favour of companies with little or no plumbing experience, companies allegedly connected to municipal managers.
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Contractors, employed by the municipality for over 20 years, say they have not worked since last year.
They accuse the municipality of appointing new plumbing service providers before resolving existing contracts.
They further allege these new contractors lack valid contracts and plan to pay workers below municipal rates.
"We were working perfectly until May and then they just stopped us altogether and they said there is no more work," says water contractor Barry Kid.
Kid says the municipality has not paid since January and, six months later, they still have not been paid.
In a statement, the municipality said the Auditor-General found its previous plumbing contractor system irregular, prompting a new contracting model.
Authorities urge protesting contractors to resolve disputes through legal channels, while the City continues rolling out the new system and maintaining water services.