President Cyril Ramaphosa says a new state-owned company and stronger laws will help tackle South Africa’s worsening water crisis.
In his latest letter to the nation, Ramaphosa said many communities were facing shortages, poor water quality and collapsing municipal infrastructure.
“Parts of our country are experiencing worsening water shortages and deteriorating water quality. In some places, ageing water infrastructure has collapsed,” he said.
The crisis has also become a public health threat.
Communities without reliable clean water often turn to rivers and streams, increasing the risk of diseases such as cholera.
New national water agency planned
Ramaphosa said the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency would coordinate investment in bulk water infrastructure.
The new state-owned entity forms part of a wider government plan to improve water supply and sanitation services.
Other initiatives include the National Water Access Acceleration Programme, the National Water Crisis Committee and the National Water Action Plan.
The action plan brings together national, provincial and local government, water boards, regulators and water service authorities.
Ramaphosa said emergency projects, including boreholes, were already being rolled out and would reach more communities.
Officials could face personal liability
Public hearings will soon begin on the Water Services Amendment Bill.
Ramaphosa said the proposed law would strengthen enforcement and allow municipal managers who fail to manage infrastructure to be held personally liable.
He acknowledged that many municipalities had failed to maintain infrastructure, manage water services properly or respond urgently to breakdowns.
Where officials or municipalities break environmental and water laws, government could use directives, criminal proceedings and personal liability where permitted.
R156bn allocated to infrastructure
The National Water Crisis Committee will focus on improving municipal services, increasing investment and reforming water institutions.
It will also work to strengthen regulation and address corruption and criminal activity in the sector.
Ramaphosa said households and businesses affected by repeated water outages had “had enough” and were justified in their frustration.
Government has allocated R156 billion to water and sanitation infrastructure over the next three years.
The president said the funding, new agency and legal reforms were intended to improve accountability and deliver safer, more reliable water services.