South Africa’s Water Crisis: DA Calls for Urgent Action

DA Calls for Human-Rights and Criminal Investigations into Municipal Officials Denying Water to Communities

South Africa is in the grips of an escalating national water crisis. From the Free State to KwaZulu-Natal, and from Mpumalanga to Gauteng, countless communities are enduring extended water outages, unsafe water supplies, and a complete failure of municipal governments to maintain and repair crucial water infrastructure. The Democratic Alliance (DA) will not accept this as the new normal.

The Crisis is Worsening

Nationally, 36% of homes experience water outages lasting more than two days, with provinces like Mpumalanga seeing up to 70% of homes affected. This crisis is further compounded by the failure of local municipalities to manage water infrastructure effectively, resulting in widespread human suffering.

In towns and cities across the country, the situation has become unbearable. Water outages have stretched from days to weeks, with municipalities failing to address leaks, fix broken pumps, or repair water treatment plants. Some municipalities, like Matjhabeng, have been shedding thousands of litres of clean water due to leaking pipes for weeks without any action. Areas such as Makanda, Phambili, Koffiefontein, and Olifrantshoek have been without water for weeks, and municipalities like Dihlabeng and Metsimaholo are failing to provide reliable water supplies to their residents.

The data from across the country shows a trend of increasing water interruptions, especially in areas with the necessary infrastructure but where local governments have failed to deliver. The Western Cape stands out as an exception, with only 3% of homes experiencing water shortages. This is not a coincidence – it’s a result of responsible governance, strategic planning, and investment in water infrastructure.

The lack of adequate water supply affects all sectors of society – from households to schools, hospitals, and businesses. The health risks are escalating, with many communities relying on unsafe water sources, such as contaminated wells and rivers, shared with animals. In some areas, entire municipalities are on the brink of bankruptcy, unable to pay for bulk water supplies. This failure to deliver basic services is a direct violation of the constitutional right to access clean water.

We cannot accept this as the new normal. The time to act is now.

DA’s Call for Accountability

The DA demands the SAHRC undertake a full-scale human-rights investigation, which may lead to criminal investigations, into the municipal officials responsible for these catastrophic failures. These officials have not only neglected their constitutional duty to provide access to water, but they have also violated the basic human right of South Africans to safe, clean water. Municipal leaders and political figures who have allowed these failures to persist must now be held accountable.

If municipalities have failed to allocate budgets for infrastructure maintenance while using funds for non-essential purposes, they must be held to account for breaches of municipal finance laws. The DA is calling for urgent investigations into these actions.

The Western Cape Leads the Way

While other regions struggle, the Western Cape remains a beacon of effective governance. With careful planning, the Western Cape has achieved an outstanding 97% water supply reliability. By prioritising strategic investments in water infrastructure and adopting a forward-thinking approach to water management, the province is proving that it is possible to ensure water security for all communities. The DA is committed to bringing this level of responsibility to the national stage.

The DA’s Plan to End the Crisis

The DA has a clear and practical plan to address this crisis:

  • Involve the private sector in water infrastructure projects.
  • Create water-sensitive cities to improve stormwater management and flood control.
  • Fast-track the development of dams and water treatment plants.
  • Take a scientific approach to chemical pollution risk assessment in water.
  • Implement a dedicated infrastructure maintenance fund.
  • Educate citizens to use water responsibly and efficiently.

The DA has demonstrated in the City of Cape Town that these solutions work. With R10.9 billion invested in infrastructure, Cape Town has secured its water future despite challenges like the 2018 drought. This level of investment and planning can – and must – be replicated across the country.

We Must Act Now

The DA will not accept that South Africa’s water crisis becomes the new normal. The failure of municipal officials to maintain and repair essential infrastructure has caused a devastating impact on residents, businesses, hospitals, and schools. The DA is committed to securing justice for affected communities and will continue to push for investigations into the failure to deliver this basic human right.

We call on all South Africans to join us in demanding accountability. With your support, we can bring lasting solutions to this crisis. Together, we can restore the dignity of our people, ensure access to clean water for all, and hold those responsible for this crisis accountable.

South Africa’s future is at stake. Let’s act now.