KWAZULU-NATAL — Deputy President Paul Mashatile has reaffirmed that access to clean water is a fundamental constitutional right, emphasizing this priority during the official launch of the Mandela Day Water Services Project and Acceleration Programme for unserved communities in KwaZulu-Natal.
Speaking on Saturday, 18 July 2026, a date coinciding with Nelson Mandela International Day, the Deputy President stated that water is a human right enshrined in the Constitution. He noted that when communities lack access to clean and reliable water, they are denied not only a basic service but also their dignity, opportunity, and the full enjoyment of their constitutional rights. The event reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing basic services essential for human dignity and health, honouring Madiba’s legacy through tangible action.
The launch featured the official unveiling of the Babanango Community Water Supply Scheme and the Msinga Borehole Water Supply Intervention. Deputy President Mashatile, accompanied by Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, emphasized that these projects reflect a practical commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable communities.
The Babanango Water Supply Scheme integrates protected spring water sources, a borehole backup system, a water treatment plant, reservoirs, pipelines, and distribution infrastructure. This comprehensive system is designed to supply up to 500,000 litres of treated water daily to surrounding areas.
Addressing the gathered stakeholders, Deputy President Mashatile declared that access to water cannot be a privilege for a few, but must be a reality for all. He asserted that no community is too remote, small, or poor to be excluded from development, stating that the government aims to bring hope where there has been doubt, dignity where there has been struggle, and opportunity where there have been obstacles.
Acknowledging that residents had waited years for reliable drinking water, the Deputy President described the scheme’s completion as a critical milestone in extending basic services to rural areas. He highlighted the project as a successful demonstration of cooperation under the District Development Model (DDM), which coordinates planning and service delivery across national, provincial, and local government spheres, alongside traditional leaders and local communities.
Despite these advancements, the Deputy President noted that South Africa continues to face substantial water supply challenges driven by climate variability, ageing infrastructure, population growth, vandalism, and historical underinvestment.
To counter these issues, the government has prioritized water security through targeted interventions. These include the National Water Access Acceleration Programme, designed to expand safe and reliable water access to unserved or underserved areas. Furthermore, the government is accelerating water provision via borehole development, spring protection, rainwater harvesting, and the rehabilitation of existing water schemes. The Water Services Infrastructure Grant is also being actively deployed to address infrastructure backlogs in rural and underserved regions.
“These interventions are helping us to reach communities more quickly while building long-term resilience and sustainability,” Deputy President Mashatile stated.
As part of the broader Mandela Day programme, the government symbolically launched and handed over 27 decentralised water supply interventions across KwaZulu-Natal.
Concluding his remarks, the Deputy President urged local residents to take ownership of the newly delivered infrastructure to ensure its long-term viability. He stressed that the sustainability of such projects relies heavily on community ownership and active participation, calling on citizens to protect the infrastructure against vandalism and misuse so that future generations can continue to benefit from these critical investments.