Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has called for a whole-of-society approach to address the growing municipal debt owed to water boards, and the broader challenges affecting the sustainability of the water sector.
Mahlobo said government alone could not resolve the challenges facing the water sector and called on communities, businesses, civil society, traditional leaders, indigenous communities and other stakeholders to become active partners in the use, management and protection of water.
The Deputy Minister was speaking during a webinar convened by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, under the topic: “Municipal debt to water boards: Exploring a human rights centric approach”.
The webinar brought together key stakeholders to discuss the growing municipal debt burden, its impact on the sustainability of water boards, and the implications for the constitutional right of access to water.
Water boards play a critical role in the water value chain by supplying bulk potable water to water services authorities. However, challenges including poor revenue collection, weak credit control, governance shortcomings and weaknesses in financial management have left some municipalities struggling to meet their payment obligations to water boards.
Municipal debt owed to water boards amounts to R23.77 billion, excluding current accounts, as at 31 July 2026.
The continued accumulation of the debt is placing significant pressure on the liquidity of water boards, with some entities experiencing severe cash-flow constraints and an increased risk of financial distress.
Mahlobo said the consequences of municipalities failing to settle their bulk water accounts extended beyond the balance sheets of individual institutions.
The situation affects the ability of water boards to maintain, refurbish and expand critical water infrastructure and places pressure on their capacity to provide sustainable and reliable bulk water services to municipalities.
The webinar sought to examine the causes of the growing municipal debt, assess its human rights implications, and identify corrective measures to address the debt burden.
Mahlobo highlighted several interventions required to strengthen the sustainability of the water sector, including increased investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, improved water-use efficiency and measures to reduce water losses, pollution and non-revenue water.
He also called for stronger financial discipline and the reinvestment of resources into critical infrastructure, alongside more effective billing, credit control and enforcement mechanisms to improve revenue collection across the water value chain.
The Deputy Minister said government and society must also confront the culture of non-payment for municipal and basic services.
He stressed the need to strengthen the protection of water infrastructure against vandalism, theft and other criminal activities, while ensuring that the sector is better equipped to respond to the growing impacts of climate change.
Mahlobo said the challenges facing the water sector required partnerships that extended beyond government.
“Our view is that this matter of water, for the first time, there is a leadership led by the President, where there is clarity. But as government alone, we are not going to resolve the problem. We need a society approach, working with communities who are partners around water use and sanitation. But also working with businesses, and civil society experts, including indigenous communities and traditional leaders,” the Deputy Minister said.
Mahlobo reiterated that addressing municipal debt and the broader challenges affecting the water sector requires collective leadership, shared responsibility and decisive action.
“Through stronger partnerships, responsible water use, sound financial management and decisive action across the water value chain, South Africa can build a more sustainable and resilient water sector that safeguards access to water for present and future generations,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
