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On Thursday, 04 September 2025, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) met with the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to discuss some of the systemic water challenges confronting the country. The SAHRC used the meeting to highlight its recent policy brief which details various legislative and policy measures which could be utilised the tackle the scourge of water mafias and the sabotage of essential water infrastructure.

The SAHRC detailed how systemic attacks on essential water infrastructure had become endemic and how organised criminal networks and syndicates have embedded themselves in the water sector, sacrificing access to water, a public good, at the altar of personal economic gain. The SAHRC also shared with the Minister and the DWS, its concerns regarding the ongoing water woes in the Emfuleni Local Municipality as well the water supply challenges in Hammanskraal. 

In responding to the issues raised by the SAHRC, the Minister and the officials from the DWS indicated that water had been elevated to a national priority by the President and significant efforts were being made to tackle water and sanitation challenges in the country. It was highlighted that a Water Task Team, chaired by the Deputy President had been established as a multi-departmental forum to mitigate the water challenges besetting the country. The Minister and the DWS highlighted several past, current and future interventions to deal with water challenges in Emfuleni Local Municipality and Hammanskraal.

It was indicated that a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), intended to function as an external water and sanitation service provider for a period of 30 years was in the process of being established in Emfuleni Local Municipality. The DWS revealed that the Council of Emfuleni in July 2025 had approved the establishment of the SPV, which would be a game changer in the provision of water and sanitation services to the people of Emfuleni. 

Regarding Hammanskraal water supply challenges, the Minister and the DWS indicated that significant progress had been made since the joint partnership intervention between the DWS and the City of Tshwane commenced in 2023. It was also revealed that the construction of a package plant at Magalies Water’s Klipdrift Water Treatment Works was progressing well and was delivering more than half of its design capacity into the water distribution network of the City of Tshwane. Further, the repairs at Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works were progressing well with the Development Bank of Southern Africa as the implementing agent. 

The Minister and the DWS welcomed the policy brief developed by the SAHRC as it was aligned with the resolution of fighting criminality and corruption in the water and sanitation sector, which was adopted at the Water and Sanitation Indaba in March 2025.

It was highlighted that the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum had been established to root out corruption and malfeasance in the water and sanitation sector. Further, community education and awareness programmes were being conducted to raise the implications of theft and vandalism on water infrastructure. It was resolved that the DWS will provide the SAHRC with a comprehensive written report on the contents of the SAHRC’s policy brief. It was also resolved that the SAHRC would seek audience with the Water Task Team to present the contents of the policy brief. 

The SAHRC is encouraged by the commitment of the Minister and the DWS to turn the water supply challenges confronting the country around. The SAHRC continues to call on government across its spheres to move with great speed to accelerate universal water availability and improve water quality as dictated by the Sustainable Development Goals. For its part, the SAHRC will continue to utilise its constitutional and statutory powers, including litigation, against organs of state that fail to deliver services. The SAHRC encourages the public to continue to approach the SAHRC to lodge complaints to vindicate their rights of access to water and sanitation. 

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission