SAHRC blames Gauteng water crisis on poor maintenance

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has blamed Gauteng's water crisis on poor infrastructure, maintenance, and weak municipal accountability, rather than an actual shortage of water. At a Johannesburg press conference, Commissioner Dr. Henk Boshoff revealed that all nine municipalities were subpoenaed to participate in the inquiry, submitting written responses only after the hearings. The inquiry was prompted by persistent complaints about water interruptions and sewage pollution throughout the province.

In response to the crisis, the SAHRC has issued eight recommendations to enhance water and sanitation services and safeguard residents' constitutional rights. Boshoff emphasized that all water services authorities must address unauthorised, irregular, and wasteful expenditure in line with the Municipal Finance Management Act. Each municipal council must submit a progress report to the auditor general within three months of the report's publication, detailing the steps taken to rectify the aforementioned issues, with a deadline of early 2027.

Additionally, the SAHRC has highlighted a concerning trend where water tankers, intended for emergency relief during water outages, are increasingly becoming a regular source of water for some communities in Gauteng. Commissioner Boshoff warned that this growing dependence on water tankers risks entrenching a substandard level of service, leaving communities vulnerable to unreliable deliveries, accessibility challenges, and potential exploitation.

He accused water tanker services in Gauteng of being exploited by corrupt municipal leaders and service providers, rather than serving the legitimate needs of the communities. Boshoff described water tankering as a brazen form of corruption and financial mismanagement, noting that it operates alongside the conventional road-based water distribution network.