South Africa faces a worsening water crisis impacting daily life and industries across the country. Justice Malala, a leading journalist in South Africa, detailed alarming examples of the ongoing crisis during a personal visit a couple of years ago. In Hammanskraal, a suburb of Pretoria, Malala witnessed the dire consequences of poorly treated water amid a cholera outbreak that claimed 20 lives. The absence of municipal assistance turned shoppers to alternative methods for accessing clean water, rendering shopping trolleys useless as families resorted to carrying large canisters home.
As of March 21, 2025, Johannesburg residents are grappling with severe water supply issues. Cuts that can last as long as 86 hours are now commonplace, making it difficult for households to fulfill their basic needs. And this lack of water is not just a hassle for citizens; it serves as a vital challenge for struggling industries including car manufacturing and food processing.
John Steenhuisen, the leader of the Democratic Alliance, a pro-market political party now in a coalition government with the African National Congress, attributed the ongoing shortages to years of mismanagement and under-investment. “The system has started to reach a tipping point where it’s failing massively,” Steenhuisen remarked, pointing out that despite Gauteng’s dams and reservoirs being full, the taps remain dry. Such discrepancies reflect a community in turmoil, left to cope with failures rooted deep within the municipal framework.
Steenhuisen criticized municipal governments for a lack of foresight in maintaining critical infrastructure, saying, “You have water, electricity, and sanitation services that are invisible because they’re all underground. So it’s very tempting when budget time comes around to say, ‘We’d much rather have a community hall than actually replace the 2km of piping.’” This glaring oversight has revealed a sense of negligence governing water management across municipalities.
In South Africa, daily water consumption averages about 237 liters per person, significantly higher than the global average of 173 liters. However, the country is challenged by limited water treatment and recycling solutions. As Senzo Muchunu, former minister of water and sanitation, noted, aging infrastructure contributes to alarming leakage rates of approximately 35% in Gauteng alone. “We are a water-scarce country, but we still have just enough water, provided that municipalities stop leaking water the way they are doing now,” Muchunu asserted, addressing the urgent need for remedial action.
The historical context of South Africa's water crisis stretches back to decisions under previous administrations, particularly the government led by former president Jacob Zuma from 2009 to 2018. During that period, rampant corruption, referred to as state capture, often resulted in misallocated funds, with projects disappearing without a trace. A finance ministry official—speaking on condition of anonymity—revealed a troubling relationship between political practices and localized maintenance contracts that compromise service quality.
Muchunu described the insidious emergence of a so-called “water mafia,” indicating a further layer of complexity to the crises faced by local authorities. These entities reportedly manipulate access to clean water by sabotaging lines and then charging the public to deliver water via tanker trucks. “There’s a water ‘mafia’. They cut the line and then they come around with tankers of water,” recounted a businessman working on water resource management. This troubling scenario underscores the need for a comprehensive overhaul of water management strategies.
The government is exploring solutions that could involve private sector participation, highlighting the importance of a collaborative approach to ensure effective water delivery systems. The establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency aims to streamline oversight and create a framework for private investments in this crucial sector. Steenhuisen explained, “The idea now is to bring in private sector players and ensure that municipalities ring-fence revenues. A certain proportion must go to maintenance.”
In previous years, cooperation between the government and private sector has yielded positive shifts in other areas, such as energy, paving a potential pathway for similar strategies in the water sector. As Senzo Muchunu reiterated, “People want water now.” The urgency of this sentiment resonates deeply within communities that have faced sustained hardships due to water failures. The forthcoming reforms and the inevitable accountability they demand may prove pivotal in addressing the present crisis.
Addressing the ongoing disarray in South Africa’s water management system is paramount for restoring public confidence and ensuring that all South Africans have access to safe, reliable water. The future hinges on decisive actions taken today, which may shape the water – and overall governance – landscape of the nation for generations to come.
