The South African government has issued a stark warning that severe water shortages plaguing communities across the nation will continue for the next three to five years, and could deteriorate further without urgent intervention.
The assessment comes from Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, who acknowledged in a televised interview that the country’s local government water system is “so vulnerable” it must be managed on a daily basis. His comments follow a dire warning from civil society organization WaterCan, which stated that the crisis has escalated beyond a service delivery problem into a “full-blown disaster,” particularly in Johannesburg, where residents are already living under “day zero” conditions.
A System in Decay
Deputy Minister Mahlobo confirmed that while the country has sufficient bulk water resources, the crisis stems from catastrophic failures at the municipal level. He cited crumbling infrastructure, massive water losses, and a critical lack of investment.
“Our biggest tendon are the municipalities that are having challenges,” Mahlobo said. He revealed that in one municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal region, non-revenue water—water lost through leaks or illegal connections—is at 72%, meaning residents only have a reliable supply 28% of the time.
The deputy minister placed the price tag for fixing the current system at over R400 billion. This is needed to address the backlog in 105 struggling municipalities, where reservoirs, pump stations, and pipelines have not kept pace with development.
Government’s Turnaround Plan
Mahlobo outlined elements of a national water turnaround plan, mandated by the President following last year’s declaration of a national water crisis. Key interventions include:
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R58 billion in ring-fenced funding from the national treasury to support metros with water and electricity infrastructure.
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A shift toward “blended finance,” utilizing private sector investment and public-private partnerships (SPVs and concessions) to close the funding gap.
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Taking control of projects from under-spending municipalities through indirect grants, allowing national water entities to implement them directly.
Despite these plans, Mahlobo was clear that stability is years away. “We should be able to start to see some stability in some municipalities within 3 to 5 years,” he stated, adding, “if we don’t do what we’re supposed to do the situation is going to get worse.”
Day Zero Debate and Human Impact
The interview highlighted a stark contrast in perspectives on the immediacy of the crisis. While WaterCan insists Johannesburg is already at “day zero,” Mahlobo argued the term—meaning a total absence of water—does not apply nationally due to full dams. He instead framed the issue as a “reliability of supply” crisis, with the national average reliability dropping to 67%.
However, reports from the ground paint a picture of severe hardship. Residents, including the elderly and children, are forced to queue for hours for limited water from tankers. These deliveries are described as erratic, sometimes unsafe at night, and insufficient. Mahlobo acknowledged problems with a potential “water tanker mafia” and vowed to insource tanker services to eliminate corruption and improve coordination.
Call for Citizen Action and Stricter Measures
The deputy minister also called for a change in public behavior, noting that in some areas like Gauteng, water usage is 280 litres per person, far above the global average of 170 litres. He signaled that stricter regulations and penalties for high users, similar to those applied in Cape Town, may be necessary.
While dismissing the immediate need for a national disaster declaration—a step urged by Water Can to fast-track resources—Mahlobo emphasized the non-negotiable need for accountability and urgent action from leaders. “We must rise to the occasion and the obligation of leadership,” he said.