Government prioritises water and sanitation security at national indaba
President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa ranks among the 25 most water-stressed countries, using more than 80% of its water supply for domestic needs.
President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the Department of Water and Sanitation for its efforts to enhance water security in South Africa during the Water and Sanitation Indaba at the Gallagher Convention Centre on March 27.
The two-day event highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing water security challenges and ensuring reliable, sustainable water and sanitation services for all citizens.
Ramaphosa noted that South Africa ranked among the 25 most water-stressed countries, using more than 80% of its water supply for domestic needs. He acknowledged that the country was far from achieving clean water and sanitation for everyone, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 6.
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“We have several other water infrastructure projects earmarked for blended financing through the Infrastructure Fund, such as the Polihali Dam that will feed 490m cubic metres of water a year from the Lesotho Highlands into the Vaal River System,” said Ramaphosa.
While these long-term infrastructure projects would help address current supply issues, Ramaphosa emphasised the need for a comprehensive national turnaround plan to align with the Government of National Unity’s Medium-Term Development Plan 2025-2029.
He highlighted existing challenges, including financial mismanagement, poor revenue collection, and high water losses, which exacerbated service delivery problems at the local government level.
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Ramaphosa pointed out issues identified during last year’s Water Summit, such as aging infrastructure, vandalism, illegal connections, and organised crime affecting the water sector. To address these challenges, Ramaphosa noted that the government had reduced the turnaround time for issuing water use licences and published a Raw Water Pricing Strategy to promote efficient management.
Currently, 75% of applications are processed within 90 days, and an additional 110 technical staff have been hired for process improvements. The establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency is expected to enhance strategic alignment and accountability in water management.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina warned that poor water management could lead to severe shortages. She attributed the country’s water challenges to damaged infrastructure and emphasised that municipalities must ensure water reaches all citizens.
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Majodina stated that those involved in fraudulent activities related to water would be held accountable, revealing that R459 million had been recovered from fraudulent dealings. She urged mayors to combat illegal connections and criticised the reliance on water tankers.
She said the water supplied by water boards must be of high quality. “Water users owe these water boards R24b. If we continue like that, the danger is that the water boards will collapse. If they do, it means no water is going to be purified, no water will come as bulk supply to municipalities, and that will affect all municipalities.”
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