South Africa observes National Water Month in March at a time when frustration over the unreliability of water supply has made headlines.
We are all in agreement that citizens should not have to protest before water runs from their taps, as was the case in areas including Midrand and Westbury in Gauteng. Government is also acutely aware that some areas have experienced prolonged water shortages.
Several electro-mechanical failures at Rand Water’s Palmiet and Zuikerbosch pump stations, coupled with a major pipe burst at the Klipfontein reservoir, were to blame for the reduction of the supply of treated water to municipalities across Gauteng.
Old infrastructure and inadequate maintenance over time have also exacerbated the situation.
Efforts to remedy the situation across the country have included the establishment of the National Water Crisis Committee, as announced in the State of the Nation Address last month. Chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the committee will deploy technical experts and resources from the national government to municipalities facing water challenges.
Of what use will the committee be to someone whose tap is running dry at this very moment? The frustration is warranted, acknowledged and being attended to, as most aspects of life revolve around a stable water supply, not only for households, but for businesses as well.
As much as we want these issues to be resolved yesterday, government must be given the time and chance to correct the situation. The state is acutely aware of Section 27 of the Constitution, which states that everyone has the right to have access to sufficient water.
Apart from the President’s committee, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) as the custodian of South Africa's water resources, has begun assessments towards a water action plan that is expected to be ready by mid-month.
The Minister of the DWS, Pemmy Majodina, has also authorised Rand Water to abstract additional water from the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) as part of urgent interventions to stabilise Gauteng’s strained water supply network. Approval of the urgent water use licence application to Rand Water is for a four-month period, from February to June 2026).
Meanwhile, the repair of leaks in municipal distribution systems, the removal of illegal connections by municipalities; as well as the acceleration of municipal water and sanitation capital works programmes, particularly the construction of additional reservoir storage capacity and pumping capacity, are among the steps being taken to address the situation.
Recently, Johannesburg Water announced the commencement of the final commissioning of the new Brixton Reservoir Tower and pump station complex, which will bring relief for residents.
Water issues are also being prioritised in the provinces, with the North West setting aside R1.9 billion for ongoing bulk water supply projects in Madibeng, Ratlou, and Mahikeng, among others. The funding is expected to improve the reliability of supply and expand access to underserved communities.
The Western Cape has invested over R250 million, enabling local government investment in water infrastructure. The raising of the Clanwilliam Dam wall is well under way, once complete, will add 69.5 million cubic metres of water to the system each year.
In the Eastern Cape, government is implementing 13 major bulk water supply projects valued at R9.1 billion, which are scheduled for completion in the next two years, while12 more projects are in the planning stages to secure long-term water security.
Meanwhile, the DWS will implement 51 water and sanitation infrastructure projects across the Free State in the 2026/27 financial year and beyond.
Government has reaffirmed that access to sufficient, safe and reliable water is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of advancing dignity, gender equality and social justice. As such, Government is putting its money where its mouth is.
The 2026 Budget, tabled on 25 February 2026, provides an outline of both the investments in the water sector and the reform agenda for addressing systemic water supply challenges. Over the next three years, R185.2 billion will be spent on water and sanitation projects by different components of the state.
From a reform perspective, national government is implementing the Metro Trading Services Reform to turn around the performance of water and sanitation, electricity, and solid waste services - trading services - in South Africa’s eight metropolitan cities.
The reform responds to the long-term decline in the reliability of these trading services, which undermines the livelihoods and quality of life of more than 4 in every 10 South Africans and constrains economic growth and job creation. South Africa’s metro areas are the engine of economic growth and prosperity, accounting for over two-thirds of its economic activity.
National Treasury has introduced a R54 billion performance-based incentive grant - the metro trading services component of the Urban Development Financing Grant - to incentivise improved governance and accountability, financial and operational performance of the metro trading services. This incentive, which provides payment for performance, is different to other conditional grants. Metro performance against Council-approved turnaround targets will be independently verified on an annual basis, following which metros will be awarded their share of the incentive grant.
Over the six years of the reform, R108 billion of additional investment in trading services infrastructure will be unlocked, due to the leverage ratio built into the design of the reform. For every one rand of the incentive, an additional rand of metro infrastructure investment is required through improved revenue or metro borrowing.
The Metro Trading Services Reform is flagship reform under Operation Vulindlela and is led by National Treasury, working together with the relevant national government departments – Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (local government), Department of Electricity and Energy (electricity), Department of Water and Sanitation, and the Department of the Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (solid waste management).
All eight metropolitan governments are participating in this Trading Services Reform. South Africa has come a long way since the unequal provision of services to citizens seen in yesteryear and cannot afford to fail to provide services its citizens.
Government is working to address the current challenges while also planning for future water requirements as the number of settlements continues to grow.
In the month that commemorates both Human Rights and National Water Month, ours is a country that respects the rights of all.
Observed from 01-31 March, Water Month promotes water conservation, highlights infrastructure development, and mobilises all South Africans to protect and preserve the country’s limited water resources.
The month also speaks to the importance of managing water as a shared national resource and strengthening resilience for future generations.
As a society cognisant of the role that water plays in everyday life, we should continue to report leaks when we spot them, adhere to water restrictions put in place by municipalities, and continue to use water responsibly.
As a country, South Africa overcome many challenges in the past. The difficulties related to the provision of water, as hard as they may be, are not insurmountable.-SAnews.gov.za
Neo Semono is the Features Editor at SAnews.gov.za
