Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has highlighted a nationwide push to improve water and sanitation infrastructure.
Speaking at the release of the Green Drop Report on Tuesday, Majodina outlined a series of infrastructure projects handed over during National Water Month, describing them as tangible steps toward restoring dignity and improving access to safe water.
On 20 March, projects were handed over in Limpopo, followed by a major rollout on 22 March, World Water Day. where 22 refurbished and upgraded sanitation infrastructure projects, including wastewater treatment works and pump stations were handed over in Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State.
On the same day, the Misgund Bulk Water Project was handed over in the Eastern Cape, and another infrastructure initiative was handed over in the Northern Cape.
Further handovers took place in the Western Cape on 23 March, while 24 March saw the official launch of the Bhongweni Water Supply Project in Harry Gwala District, KwaZulu-Natal, alongside the Piet Retief Water Treatment Works in Mpumalanga.
By 30 March, three more projects were handed over in the Western Cape, with another project in Moretele Local Municipality in North West.
“These interventions demonstrate government’s commitment to implementation and visible progress,” Majodina said.
Despite the project handovers, the Minister warned that infrastructure delivery must be matched by long-term sustainability.
“Handovers alone are insufficient without sustainable operation and proper maintenance,” she said, stressing the need to protect infrastructure from vandalism and theft, while ensuring municipalities have the technical capacity and responsible governance to operate and maintain systems effectively.
Majodina said the Green Drop Report serves as a critical reminder that infrastructure investment must be accompanied by “institutional discipline” and sound governance.
Priority actions to reform the sector
The Minister also outlined resolutions from the 2025 Water and Sanitation Indaba, convened under President Cyril Ramaphosa, where government and sector stakeholders agreed on five priority actions to reform the sector.
These include strengthening delivery and implementation models, mobilising investment while ensuring financial sustainability, and improving technical and operational capacity at municipal level.
Further priorities include deepening institutional reform and governance, particularly in planning, oversight, and maintenance and tackling criminality and corruption, which Majodina said continue to undermine service delivery.
“Criminality and corruption in the water and sanitation sector must be confronted, as every act of theft, sabotage, fraud, or maladministration robs communities of their constitutional right to safe water and dignified sanitation,” she said.
The Minister noted that the responsibility for implementing these resolutions have been assigned across national government departments, associations, and all 144 Water Services Authorities. However, progress has been uneven, with some municipalities lagging in submitting and implementing corrective action plans.
To strengthen compliance, she said proposed amendments in the Water Services Amendment Bill will enable the department to take action against non-compliant municipalities, including requiring them to appoint capable, licensed water service providers.
In addition, funding through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant and the Water Services Infrastructure Grant has been prioritised for the 105 worst-performing Water Services Authorities, in an effort to accelerate improvements where they are most needed.
Majodina also sent a direct message to citizens, affirming their right to reliable services.
“You have every right to demand better. Your water, your sanitation, your health, and your dignity are non-negotiable,” Majodina said. – SAnews.gov.za
