South Africa’s crumbling supply infrastructure and escalating water shedding, particularly in Gauteng, signal an imminent water crisis, posing a major threat to economic growth and political stability, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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According to BusinessTech, recent data reveals that nearly two-thirds of South Africa’s water-supplying municipalities (94 out of 144) are failing to deliver clean drinking water to residents.
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The Blue Drop Report highlights that water treatment and supply in 61 municipalities are in a ‘critical state.’
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) reports that around 40% of water pumped from sources is classified as non-revenue water, lost through leaks and other inefficiencies.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Professor David Walwyn, a climate specialist at the University of Pretoria, highlighted another critical issue: a significant portion of South Africa’s remaining water is contaminated due to failures at water treatment plants, compounding the crisis facing the country’s water resources.
’68% of wastewater treatment facilities in the country failed to adequately process the incoming water, which is a big problem,’ Walwyn said.
Water has become as critical an issue for South Africa as the ongoing electricity and logistics crises.
Experts caution that water boards are in a death spiral, estimating it would take R1 trillion to resolve the crisis.
Over the past year, water shortages have severely impacted the nation’s economy, particularly in Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, which has faced persistent water shortages since mid-last year.
Rand Water warned Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni municipalities in central Gauteng that their system was at risk of collapse.
In March, a lightning strike at a pumping station left large parts of Johannesburg without water for up to 11 days.
Economist Marie Antelme and ESG analyst Leila Joseph stated in July 2024 that water security is one of the most critical risks to South Africa’s long-term future.
The DWS projects that water demand will significantly rise over the next 20 years, while supply will decrease, leading to a 17% shortfall by 2030.
Inadequate planning, poor management, and insufficient infrastructure investment have led to rapid decay, vandalism, and corruption in South Africa’s water supply.
Experts warn this crisis could severely damage the economy by disrupting agriculture, industry, and daily life, causing food shortages, job losses, and reduced industrial output.
This threat to livelihoods could escalate public discontent, sparking protests and social unrest, eroding investor confidence, decreasing foreign investments, and straining government resources.
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The Minister of Water and Sanitiation Pemmy Majodina noted that poor infrastructure and extreme weather cause significant water loss through leaks.
While the DWS cannot directly intervene in municipal water supply failures, it will support municipalities fully.
The Water Services Amendment Bill, introduced in November, aims to strengthen enforcement by allowing the department to issue directives to municipalities failing to provide clean drinking water.
If a municipality doesn’t comply in time, the bill permits the water minister to appoint a water services institution to take over operations, maintenance, billing, procurement, and human resources.
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