The Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA) welcomes the upcoming Presidential Water and Sanitation Indaba, commending the President and the Gauteng Premier for prioritising water security at the highest levels of government.
With South Africa facing a growing water crisis, AWSISA urges decisive action to address failing infrastructure, governance challenges, and widespread service delivery failures. March, which marks Human Rights Month, Water Month, and International Women’s Day, serves as a critical reminder that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right. However, millions of South Africans, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas, remain without these essential services.
The latest Green, Blue, and No Drop reports from the Department of Water and Sanitation reveal that over 100 municipalities are dysfunctional, with many Water Services Authorities doubling as service providers despite lacking the necessary expertise. Additional challenges – including energy insecurity, infrastructure vandalism, and encroachment on water servitudes – are further undermining service delivery and water security.
Key Priority Areas for Immediate Action
AWSISA calls for the Presidential Indaba to deliver concrete, actionable outcomes, focusing on the following five key areas:
1. Transformative Delivery Models
- Establish independent, professional regional water utilities and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to replace dysfunctional municipal operations.
- Professionalise water service delivery and depoliticise key appointments to prioritize technical expertise.
2. Independent Regulation
- Fast-track the establishment of an independent Water and Sanitation Regulator to enforce service standards, transparency, and tariff regulations.
3. Municipal Functionality & Governance
- Empower the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to intervene early in struggling municipalities and enforce turnaround strategies.
- Strengthen intergovernmental compacts to hold municipalities accountable.
4. Water Reclamation, Pollution Control & Resource Protection
- Scale up water reuse technologies across industrial and municipal sectors.
- Mandate strict pollution monitoring and enforcement to protect South Africa’s water sources from effluent discharge and agricultural runoff.
- Provide incentives for municipalities that successfully implement water reclamation projects.
5. Capacity Building & Community Engagement
- Establish regional training hubs through AWSISA partnerships.
- Facilitate secondment programs with global water leaders such as Singapore’s PUB and Denmark’s Water Alliance.
- Institutionalise water stewardship education in schools and community platforms.
- Create open-access platforms for real-time water quality and supply updates.
The Way Forward
AWSISA emphasises that the 2025 Presidential Water and Sanitation Indaba must be a turning point, setting South Africa on a new trajectory toward water security, sustainable service delivery, and infrastructure resilience.
AWSISA stands ready to collaborate with government, private sector stakeholders, and civil society to ensure that commitments made at the Indaba translate into long-term, impactful change.
