South Africa's water crisis: systemic weaknesses, criminal networks, and government reforms

South Africa faces a severe water crisis, attributed to systemic and institutional weaknesses at the municipal level, according to Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina. She clarified that municipalities, as Water Services Authorities, are constitutionally responsible for water supply, not the Department of Water and Sanitation. The crisis is exacerbated by inadequate maintenance, insufficient and non-ring-fenced budgets, and significant non-revenue water due to leaks, illegal connections, and poor management. Criminal networks, often referred to as the “water tanker mafia,” exploit these vulnerabilities, particularly where prolonged reliance on emergency water tankers creates opportunities for abuse. Governance failures, including the blurring of Water Services Authority and Water Services Provider functions within municipalities and the diversion of water revenues, further weaken accountability and financial sustainability. To address these issues, the government is implementing reforms. The Water Services Amendment Bill aims to clarify responsibilities, while the National Treasury has introduced a R54 billion performance-based Trading Services Grant for metropolitan municipalities, effective from the 2025/26 financial year. Access to this grant requires approved turnaround plans, ring-fencing of water revenues, and measurable improvements in service reliability. Joint law enforcement initiatives are targeting illegal connections and criminal activities. Additiona