Minister says 'no' long-term water tankering

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has endorsed the National Treasury's recommendation against municipalities using water tankering as a long-term solution, but rather as a temporary emergency measure. Majodina announced that the Department of Water and Sanitation has launched initiatives to diminish long-term reliance on water tankering in impacted areas.

While the DWS does not disclose the exact cost of water tanker services, it highlighted that many unserved rural and peri-urban communities still depend on unlicensed private vendors and municipal tankers due to rationing, insufficient infrastructure, or failing systems. The department, along with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Human Settlements, is investing in water services infrastructure via grants.

In 2026/27, the DWS allocated R12 billion through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant and Water Services Infrastructure Grant to fund over 400 projects, with 150 expected to be completed this year. These projects aim to enhance access for unserved communities, complete overdue projects, reduce non-revenue water, and improve supply reliability.

The funding will also foster private sector partnerships and increase the use of water boards and other implementing agents like the Development Bank of Southern Africa to speed up project implementation. Majodina emphasized that the department's RBIG component focuses on rapid and cost-effective interventions like groundwater development, spring protection, rainwater harvesting, and related measures suitable for rural areas with low income levels and limited economic activity.

Municipalities are encouraged to submit funding proposals for upgrading and expanding distribution infrastructure to serve unserved communities, especially those in densely populated regions. The department remains committed to supporting struggling municipalities in refurbishing water treatment works, replacing aging pipelines and pumps, and rehabilitating boreholes and groundwater schemes, while also advising municipalities to minimize non-revenue water through leak and system loss reduction efforts.