Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina addressed the two-day National Water and Sanitation Indaba, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address South Africa’s water challenges. The Indaba, held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss solutions to the country’s water crisis.
According to Minister Majodina, infrastructure damage, rather than water supply issues is the primary cause of the country’s water challenges. Majodina emphasized that ageing infrastructure, vandalism, and corruption are exacerbating the crisis .
The demand for water exceeds the available supply, resulting in approximately 4 million people running out of water every month. Furthermore, municipalities’ lack of skilled workers hinders their ability to effectively manage and maintain water systems. To address these challenges, the department plans to clamp down on water tankering and extortion mafias, as well as corrupt officials.
Three major issues have been identified: leaks, illegal connections, and incorrect billing, which are further complicated by vandalism and water tankering.
The department is working with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to make arrests and recover losses. They’ve already recouped R459 million that was defrauded from the water department through invoices.
The financial aspect of the crisis is alarming, with water boards owed a combined R24 billion by municipalities and individuals. If left unaddressed, this debt could lead to the collapse of water boards, resulting in unpurified water and further exacerbating the crisis.
An anti-corruption forum has been introduced to tackle the issue, with a focus on holding accountable those responsible for the crisis.
