How to Report a Burst Pipe, Pothole or Government Failure in South Africa

South Africa's municipalities are legally required to maintain infrastructure. When they fail — burst pipes, potholes, broken street lights, overflowing sewage — you have the right to report it and demand a response.

Here is who is responsible for what, and how to contact them.

Who is responsible for what

Your local municipality handles: water and sewage pipes, roads and potholes, street lights, refuse collection, housing maintenance, and public parks.

SAPS handles: illegal trading without permits, abandoned vehicles, public safety hazards, missing manhole covers, and exposed electrical wires.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) handles: illegal dumping, river and stream pollution, air pollution from burning, and encroachment on protected land.

How to report to your municipality

Most major municipalities have dedicated fault-reporting lines:

| Municipality | Number | |---|---| | City of Johannesburg | 0860 562 874 | | City of Cape Town | 0860 103 089 | | eThekwini (Durban) | 080 131 3013 | | City of Tshwane | 012 358 9999 | | Nelson Mandela Bay | 041 506 1111 |

When you call, always ask for a reference number. This is your proof that the report was made. Follow up if the problem is not resolved within 5 working days.

You can also report online or via WhatsApp for most major cities. Cape Town has a dedicated app; Joburg has an online fault-reporting portal.

For SAPS matters

Call Crime Stop on 0860 010 111 (anonymous tip line) or SMS 32211. For emergencies, call 10111.

For illegal dumping and environmental damage

Call the DFFE environmental crimes hotline on 0800 205 005. This is a free call and you can report anonymously. If illegal mining is happening in your area, also report to the Department of Mineral Resources.

What to do if nothing happens

Escalate to your ward councillor — find them on the IEC website using your address
Contact the South African Human Rights Commission — they handle failure to deliver basic services
Contact Section 27 or your provincial legislature's public accounts committee
Document everything — photos, dates, reference numbers, names of officials spoken to

The Constitution (Section 27) gives every South African the right to have access to water, housing, and health services. Municipalities have a legal duty to progressively realise these rights.

Report a problem using our free civic reporting tool — automatically routed to the right authority →