Deputy President Paul Mashatile has reiterated that access to clean water is a constitutional right and remains central to government's efforts to improve the lives of rural communities.
"Water is a fundamental human right enshrined in our Constitution. When a community has no access to clean and reliable water, it is denied more than a basic service; it is denied dignity, opportunity and the full enjoyment of its constitutional rights," Deputy President Mashatile said.
The Deputy President made the remarks at the launch of Mandela Day Water Services Project and Acceleration Programme for unserved communities in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, 18 July 2026.
The launch, which coincided with Nelson Mandela International Day, reaffirmed government's commitment to ensuring that all South Africans have access to basic services essential for human dignity and health, especially clean and reliable water, honouring Madiba's legacy through actions.
The launch included the unveiling of the Babanango Community Water Supply Scheme and the Msinga Borehole Water Supply Intervention.
Speaking at the launch of the Babanango Water Supply Scheme, the Deputy President, who was accompanied by Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, said the project reflects government's commitment to honouring Madiba's legacy through practical action aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable communities.
The Babanango Water Supply Scheme combines protected spring water sources, a borehole backup system, a water treatment plant, reservoirs, pipelines and distribution infrastructure to supply up to 500 000 litres of treated water a day to surrounding communities.
Through the Babanango Water Supply Scheme, Deputy President Mashatile said, government is declaring that “access to water cannot be a privilege enjoyed by some; but must be a reality for all”.
“We are saying that no community is too remote, too small or too poor to be affected by development. We bring hope where there has been doubt, dignity where there has been struggle, and opportunity where there have been obstacles,” he said.
The Deputy President acknowledged that residents had waited years for reliable access to clean drinking water, describing the completion of the scheme as an important milestone in government’s efforts to extend access to basic services and improve the lives of rural communities.
He said the project demonstrated the value of cooperation between national, provincial and local government, traditional leaders and communities under the District Development Model (DDM), which seeks to improve service delivery through coordinated planning across all spheres of government.
The Deputy President said South Africa continues to face significant water supply challenges due to climate variability, ageing infrastructure, population growth, vandalism and years of underinvestment.
He said government had prioritised water security through several interventions, including the National Water Access Acceleration Programme, which aims to expand access to safe and reliable water for communities that remain unserved or underserved.
The Deputy President highlighted that government is accelerating water provision through borehole development, spring protection, rainwater harvesting and the rehabilitation of existing water schemes, while the Water Services Infrastructure Grant is being used to address infrastructure backlogs in rural and underserved areas.
“These interventions are helping us to reach communities more quickly while building long-term resilience and sustainability,” he said.
As part of the Mandela Day programme, government also symbolically launched and handed over 27 decentralised water supply interventions across KwaZulu-Natal.
He urged communities to safeguard the infrastructure to ensure its long-term sustainability.
"The sustainability of projects such as this one depends on community ownership and active participation. We must protect this infrastructure against vandalism and misuse so that future generations can continue to benefit from these important investments," the Deputy President said. – SAnews.gov.za
