President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the government will intervene in the operations of municipalities that fail to provide reliable water supply. These reforms are being introduced as part of the National Water Action Plan, which aims to increase accountability and improve the quality of service delivery.
In a weekly address to the nation, Ramaphosa emphasized that the plan is designed to guarantee access to quality drinking water for all residents, regardless of where they live. Both immediate measures and long-term reforms will be employed to solve persistent water supply problems.
The President noted that the main priorities are implementation, clear assignment of responsibilities, and accountability. The National Water Crisis Committee (WATERCOM) will hold regular meetings to monitor task execution, track progress, and hold departments and state structures accountable for service provision.
Ramaphosa confirmed that the government will not hesitate to intervene in the activities of municipalities that fail to meet their obligations. He stated: 'Where a municipality fails, does not wish, or cannot provide an acceptable service, the government will intervene in accordance with the Constitution and the law to ensure necessary services for our people.' If necessary, another competent water provider will be appointed in place of the municipality.
The President pointed out that for many South Africans, turning on the tap has become a source of uncertainty, and water shortages have become commonplace in towns, settlements, and rural areas, hindering families from cooking and cleaning, and preventing shops and businesses from operating.
Ramaphosa compared the current situation to the government's response to the energy crisis, stating that the same reform-oriented approach that helped eliminate power outages would now be applied to water problems. He recalled that the government previously improved Eskom's performance and attracted investment in new generation capacity through decisive action, ending the blackouts.
Despite acknowledging that South Africa is a water-scarce country, Ramaphosa clarified that the primary cause of the acute crisis is not a lack of rainfall or reservoirs, but poor management, maintenance, and financing of municipal water systems.
He reported that many municipalities used water sales revenue to cover other municipal expenses, leaving insufficient funds for infrastructure repair, replacement of outdated equipment, and hiring qualified engineers and technicians. According to the President, on average across the country, nearly half of all pumped water never reaches paying consumers due to leaks in damaged pipes, theft, or lack of billing.
Ramaphosa stressed that lost water means lost revenue that should have gone towards maintenance. He stated that the crisis cannot be solved without properly supporting and managing existing infrastructure.
The National Water Action Plan will be backed by the Water Services Amendment Bill, which is under consideration by Parliament. This bill will establish a clearer separation between municipalities as water service providers and structures responsible for their operation. Service providers will be required to obtain operational licenses based on their technical, managerial, and financial capabilities, and municipalities can only appoint structures that meet established standards and can demonstrate the ability to provide reliable water and sanitation services.
Furthermore, the President intends to reform the financing of municipal water services through the Metropolitan Services Reform Programme. Under this programme, eight metropolitan municipalities in South Africa will receive support and incentives to reserve revenues generated from water and sanitation services, ensuring these funds remain within municipal water utilities and are reinvested in infrastructure, maintenance, and operational improvements.
Ramaphosa added that municipalities will receive additional technical assistance while the government seeks more funding through partnerships with private investors and creditors, as well as through results-based contracts. He specifically noted that this will not lead to the privatization of water services. 'Attracting private finance and expertise does not mean abandoning public responsibility for water,' he stated.
He also promised to vigorously combat corruption in the sector. The President reported that the implementation of the National Water Action Plan has already begun: immediate measures are being taken in struggling municipalities, grant funds are being redirected to the least effective municipalities, and legal action has been initiated against dozens of municipalities that violated the Water Act.
The government has established the National Water Infrastructure Agency to develop, operate, maintain, and finance national water infrastructure, and six Catchment Management Agencies have been created to strengthen the management of the country's main water systems. The national government invests 24 billion rand annually in municipal water and sanitation infrastructure through approximately 800 projects across the country.
Seventy-one borehole drilling projects have been completed in the provinces of Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape, providing water to about 30,000 households. This year, it is planned to drill another 80 to 100 boreholes, and over the next two years, another 500, which will expand water access for approximately 250,000 households. Ramaphosa concluded that everyone is committed to the successful implementation of the plan and the ultimate end of the water crisis in the country.
During the South African Water Institute Biennial Conference and Exhibition 2026, Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina delivered a welcoming address, highlighting the country's water crisis. She emphasized the critical need for infrastructure improvement and maintenance, while also calling for public-private partnerships to finance water supply projects.
Over two thousand specialists gathered at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) for the three-day event organized by the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA). The conference is held under the slogan 'Rethinking Amanzi – Securing Our Future.' The program began with a welcome from WISA Organizing Committee Chairman Ian Palmer, followed by a presentation from WISA CEO Dr. Lester Goldman, and an official opening by Majodina.
The conference also included the newly appointed Deputy Minister Dr. Jack Bloom, as well as Dr. Shaun Phillips, Director-General of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). The technical sessions comprise over 80 sessions dedicated to issues such as microplastics, groundwater sustainability, and aquifer recharge management, including the Cape Flats aquifer, climate resilience, droughts, floods, and alternative water supply services.
Pemmy Majodina noted the timeliness of the conference, given that the United Nations declared 2026 the Year of Water, and President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken about the water crisis in South Africa. The Minister stressed that overcoming the current crisis requires joint efforts and investment. She stated that delegates must collectively explore new technologies and methodologies to enhance climate resilience and infrastructure reliability.
Majodina emphasized that sustainable water resource management requires an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together hydrologists, economists, planners, ecologists, and social scientists. She asserted that water is everyone's business and demands partnership. The Minister added that ensuring water security will require not only additional infrastructure but also new governance models, financing mechanisms, technologies, and, most importantly, renewed commitment to collective action.
According to Majodina, South Africa's biggest infrastructure challenge is maintaining existing infrastructure. She mentioned the South African National Water Resources Agency (SANWRIA), which creates a platform for planning, financing, and maintaining core water assets. The Minister reported that they hope to secure clear commitments to rectify the situation by the end of the conference. She also noted that despite having sufficient raw water volume and main water supply, the problem lies in reticulation and distribution, which is the cause of the tap water shortage crisis.
Addressing this issue requires at least 400 million rand, but municipalities and the national government do not possess these funds. Therefore, authorities are appealing to the private sector with the call to 'Invest in Water.' Furthermore, an agreement was reached in the Water Crisis Committee to allocate a specific percentage of funds for targeted use, and work is currently underway with the National Treasury to ensure this reservation.
The water crisis in South Africa represents one of the most pressing issues for municipalities currently. Across the country, towns and settlements are facing rising water demand, climate instability, aging infrastructure, and shrinking financial resources. The author argues that the solution lies in reviving the social contract between municipalities, the public, industry, youth, and national partners.
South Africa loses 37% of treated water due to leaks, pipe bursts, vandalism, and illegal connections. These resources have been sourced, treated, and pumped at great cost, yet they disappear before reaching homes or businesses. For municipalities already struggling with budget shortages, this level of loss is devastating.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, 105 municipalities have an overall water infrastructure development deficit estimated at approximately 400 billion rand. Many treatment plants and pipelines have reached or exceeded their service life, and rapid urbanization and climate change are intensifying pressure on already fragile systems. Despite investments of nearly 100 billion rand over the past five years, repair and modernization efforts are not keeping pace with growing demand.
At the provincial level, clear strain is evident. In Gauteng, residents of Mogale City, Westber, Ebony Park, Tsakana, and Johannesburg South have experienced prolonged power outages due to dwindling reservoirs during periods of intense heat. In the eThekwini region of KwaZulu-Natal, more than 50 districts continue to face instability due to infrastructure failures and power interruptions. In the Eastern Cape, the Nelson Mandela Bay area is stuck in long-term drought cycles, with reservoir levels frequently dropping below 20%. Free State continues to face multi-day water supply interruptions in cities such as QwaQwa, Welkom, and parts of Mangaung, often linked to pump failures and aging main pipelines. Limpopo and North West face similar difficulties, as Polokwane, Mahikeng, and Clerksdorp regularly experience disruptions due to the failure of old networks under pressure.
These conditions demonstrate that the water crisis is a national issue, and municipalities, often underfunded and overburdened, bear the primary burden. In this environment, municipalities must take the initiative, but they cannot act alone. South Africa requires an updated municipal social contract where responsibility is shared, rather than outsourced, and where communities, businesses, and government act as partners in safeguarding the water future.
Municipal leadership remains a central element. Local authorities are the custodians of water distribution and treatment, planners of infrastructure investments, and first responders to system failures. Their ability to communicate transparently, interact constructively with the public, and collaborate across sectors lays the foundation for trust, which is critical for collective action.
Communities, in turn, play an increasingly vital role. When residents promptly report leaks, conserve water during peak hours, protect infrastructure from vandalism, and understand the limitations faced by municipalities, water supply systems become more stable and manageable. Community water forums, volunteer groups, and neighborhood patrols have already demonstrated their effectiveness in supporting municipalities in several regions.
The private sector also constitutes a crucial part of this partnership. Local industries are capable of implementing water-efficient processes, investing in on-site reuse systems, and collaborating with municipalities on smart metering and network monitoring. Such actions reduce the load on municipal supply while supporting economic sustainability.
The A WaterWise Nation campaign by WRC provides municipalities, communities, industries, and educators with a unified framework for building a water future. The campaign emphasizes behavioral change as one of the most powerful tools for reducing demand and protecting supplies. It offers municipalities communication materials, analytical data, case studies, and engagement tools that can be used to mobilize households and businesses. It supports communities with accessible knowledge about responsible water use, encourages industry to adopt efficient and sustainable methods, and provides young people with information and inspiration to become water stewards.
More importantly, A WaterWise Nation reinforces a fundamental principle: water security is not just a government task. It is a collective responsibility shaped by the daily decisions of millions of South Africans. If every household, business, school, and community adopts even small water-saving habits, the cumulative national effect will be enormous.
South African municipalities are navigating some of the most challenging conditions in the history of our democracy, yet they remain the bedrock of local resilience. Their work deserves recognition, and their challenges require partnership, not criticism. This is a moment of shared responsibility, where residents, businesses, and government unite to protect the systems that sustain us.
The path forward will require honesty, innovation, and collective commitment. But it is a path we are fully capable of taking. If we unite our intentions, empower local leadership, and embed water-saving behavior in society, we can change the trajectory of the crisis and build cities that are both sustainable and future-ready. South Africa's water future will be determined not only by the infrastructure we build, but by the choices we make today. Urgent action is needed, in partnership, and with the understanding that water security belongs to all of us.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the allocation of R156 billion for the development of water supply and sanitation infrastructure over the next three years. He warned that municipalities and officials failing to ensure proper management of water services could face legal consequences as the government intensifies efforts to combat the escalating water crisis in South Africa.
In his weekly bulletin on Monday, Ramaphosa presented a series of measures aimed at expanding access to safe and reliable water, improving the condition of outdated infrastructure, and increasing accountability in the water sector. These announcements came amid growing dissatisfaction from households and businesses affected by constant water shortages, deteriorating infrastructure, and poor quality municipal services in various parts of the country.
The President stated that under a broader program of public infrastructure investments, the government has allocated R156 billion for water and sanitation infrastructure over three years. He emphasized that this funding is part of a general strategy to eliminate water insecurity and improve access to water in underserved communities.
A key element of the plan is the launch of the National Water Access Acceleration Programme. This programme will focus on providing water through decentralized supply schemes, such as borehole drilling projects, groundwater development, and rainwater harvesting systems. The programme was officially launched in Hammanskraal, Gauteng province, a community that has faced water supply problems for years and experienced a cholera outbreak in 2023.
Under this initiative, residents were provided with boreholes, and the Klipdrift treatment plant was commissioned. Similar projects are being implemented in the regions of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape.
Ramaphosa noted the progress made since the start of democracy in expanding water access but admitted that the government has failed to adequately maintain infrastructure and guarantee reliable service in many municipalities. He stated that in too many municipalities, the government has struggled with infrastructure maintenance, water service management, and timely response.
Despite constitutional guarantees of water access, some communities continue to experience severe water shortages, water quality deterioration, and infrastructure damage. To address these issues, the National Water Crisis Committee was established at the beginning of this year, coordinating interventions at all levels of government. This committee is responsible for strengthening municipal water supply and sanitation systems, increasing infrastructure investment, reforming institutions, and combating corruption in the sector.
Furthermore, Ramaphosa announced legislative reforms, including a draft amendment to the municipal services act. This bill is expected to strengthen enforcement measures and introduce greater accountability for municipal officials. The President warned that the government will not hesitate to take action against municipalities and officials who fail to comply with environmental and water legislation. He specified that in cases of non-compliance, the government will apply available enforcement mechanisms, including directives, criminal proceedings, and, if permitted by law, personal liability.
Ramaphosa called water security one of the government's most urgent priorities, noting that communities suffering from water scarcity have every right to demand action. He stressed that households and businesses experiencing interruptions, and underserved communities waiting for piped water 32 years after gaining democracy, are rightly tired of waiting. He compared this situation to efforts to reduce power outages, stating that coordinated action, emergency interventions, and long-term structural reforms are necessary to resolve the water crisis. The ultimate goal, he said, is not just to overcome the current crisis but to realize Madiba's vision that all citizens of South Africa can enjoy their constitutional right to water and that this right is secured for future generations.
