South Africa’s water and sanitation systems are buckling under the weight of collapsing infrastructure, weak governance, and financial mismanagement. Municipalities owe over R28 billion to water boards. Non-revenue water exceeds 40% in many areas. Consumers are frustrated by poor service. Service providers operate in an environment where oversight is fragmented, and standards are inconsistently enforced.
The time has come for South Africa to establish a strong, independent water and sanitation regulator. An independent regulator would act as a central watchdog, ensuring tariffs are fair, infrastructure is maintained, and all service providers (public and private) meet agreed-upon standards. It would also provide consumers with a place to report grievances and allow service providers to operate in a stable, transparent framework that promotes investment and innovation. South Africa already has working models of regulatory excellence. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) ensures fair pricing and licensing in the telecommunications sector. The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) oversees NECSA and ensures strict compliance in a technically complex and politically sensitive industry. These institutions have one thing in common: Their independence.
Internationally, countries like Zambia with the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) and Portugal with Portugal Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR) have shown that independent water regulators can drive accountability, attract investment, and improve service delivery. The United Kingdom’s (UK) Office of Water Services (Ofwat) also known as Water Services Regulation Authority provides a globally recognised model for regulating tariffs, standards, and performance.
Earlier this year, the Presidential Water and Sanitation Indaba supported the formation of a water regulator as part of South Africa’s long-term solution to governance and service delivery failures. AWSISA echoes this call. We urge the Department of Water and Sanitation, the National Treasury, and Parliament of the Republic of South Africa to fast-track the policy and legal steps necessary to establish this body. Water is too important to be managed through ad hoc oversight and political interference. It requires technical consistency, financial sustainability, and public trust. Let’s regulate for results. Let’s regulate for integrity.
