The Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA) acknowledges and welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s launch of Operation Vulindlela Phase II (OV2) as a timely and necessary intervention to reverse the tide of municipal dysfunction and infrastructure collapse in South Africa.
The country faces an undisputed crisis: 66% of municipalities are distressed financially, and 64 out of 257 are deemed dysfunctional. This is no longer a governance issue; it threatens water security, economic growth, public health, and national stability. The second phase of Operation Vulindlela, emphasising structural reform, professionalisation, and a new utility model for municipal service delivery, resonates strongly with AWSISA’s long-standing policy positions.
OV2 aligns with AWSISA’s vision of (1) modern, professional, and accountable water sector, (2) implementation of the utility model (Special Purpose Vehicle – (SPV), (3) professionalisation of local government, (4) integration of dependable electricity systems (Electricity Reliability and the Water-Energy Nexus), (5) reform of municipal financing, and (6) direct settlement of municipal debt using equitable share allocations.
OV2 represent a genuine opportunity to break the cycle of infrastructure decay and declining services. While OV2 presents a bold framework, AWSISA urges the government to ensure that implementation is (1) Legally Binding: Principles of ringfencing and accountability must be legislated, not left to voluntary adoption, (2) Co-ordinated with Sector Institutions: Water boards, Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) and other water institutions must be central to reform planning, (3), Community-Focused: All reforms must include community consultation, especially on pricing, service quality, and access, and (4) Integrated with Climate Resilience: Infrastructure planning must consider water scarcity, droughts, and the impacts of climate change.
