Water challenges in South Africa: Public hearings reveal urgent issues
Public hearings in South Africa highlight critical water service issues, as residents voice their frustrations over inadequate supply and infrastructure challenges.
Water issues dominated August 2026 discussions in South Africa, eclipsing Women's Month commemorations. In Mpumalanga Province, residents testified about persistent water challenges at a public hearing on the Water Services Amendment Bill. Leon Basson, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, emphasized the need to tackle unreliable water and sanitation services, inadequate management, declining water quality, accountability gaps, and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Residents complained about receiving water only on weekends from water tankers, unserviced pumps, shortages of tankers, leaking pipes, poorly functioning boreholes, and government inaction despite repeated complaints. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) aims to amend the National Water Act to hold officials personally accountable for service failures and pollution.
However, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) warns the move overlooks systemic issues like historical backlogs, funding shortages, and aging infrastructure.
The DWS also discussed charging raw water use for 2027/2028 in a sector-specific consultation. Spokesperson Wisane Mavasa explained the consultation allows water-user sectors to express concerns and share views on the proposed charges before finalization. The Department received input from various organizations, including a critique that communities should not rely on water tankers for their water supply following the death of Celani Zungu, who was killed by a water tanker in Adams Mission.
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