Sanitation
Sanitation is the industry sector concerned with the safe collection, treatment, disposal and reuse of human waste, wastewater and solid refuse to protect public health and the environment. The sector encompasses the design, construction, operation and maintenance of sewerage networks, wastewater treatment plants, on-site sanitation systems such as septic tanks and pit latrines, and stormwater drainage infrastructure. Sanitation services are typically provided by municipal utilities, regional water boards or specialised public agencies, though private-sector participation in operations and maintenance is growing in many African markets. Access to adequate sanitation remains a critical development challenge across sub-Saharan Africa, where millions of people rely on rudimentary facilities or practise open defecation, contributing to waterborne disease outbreaks and environmental degradation. Investment in sanitation infrastructure is closely linked to water supply, urban planning and public health policy, and is often bundled with water services under integrated water and sanitation authorities. The sector is capital-intensive, requiring sustained government funding, development finance and increasingly public-private partnerships to extend coverage and upgrade ageing systems. Sanitation also intersects with resource recovery and the circular economy, as modern treatment technologies enable the extraction of biogas, fertiliser and reclaimed water from waste streams. Regulatory frameworks typically mandate minimum service standards, effluent quality limits and tariff structures to ensure affordability and environmental compliance. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 calls for universal access to adequate and equitable sanitation by 2030, driving policy attention and donor support across the continent.
Sanitation Updates
Cogta Committee Concerned By Late Payment Of Service Providers By Some Kzn Provincial Government Departments
10th July 2026 The Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration (Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Water & Sanitation) has... →
ActionSA Welcomes Public Protector Findings Exposing DA's Systematic Neglect of Langa and Khayelitsha
7th July 2026 ActionSA welcomes the Public Protector's damning findings that the City of Cape Town, under successive DA administrations, systematically failed to... →
The City’s Annual Tariff Hikes Come Into Effect, Placing Residents Under Financial Strain
1st July 2026 Today, residents of the City of Johannesburg wake up to the reality of above-inflation tariff increases coming into effect on 1 July 2026. This... →
The City’s Annual Tariff Hikes Come Into Effect, Placing Residents Under Financial Strain
1st July 2026 Today, residents of the City of Johannesburg wake up to the reality of above-inflation tariff increases coming into effect on 1 July 2026. This... →
BRICS Bank lends South Africa $1bn for cities, report says
By: Bloomberg 17th June 2026 New Development Bank is lending South Africa $1-billion for the State to upgrade infrastructure in its eight biggest cities, Business Day reported.... →
AfriForum heads to court to halt Johannesburg Metro’s unlawful water levy
12th June 2026 The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality’s continued refusal to explain or justify its controversial 65,6% increase in the water demand... →
Water and sanitation crisis in Makana Municipality
10th June 2026 The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) Eastern Cape Provincial Office today released its Investigation Report into the... →
Water Committee raises alarm over municipal failure to implement corrective action plans
By: Natasha Odendaal 10th June 2026 The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has expressed concern over water services authorities’ continued non-compliance in submitting and... →
Outcomes-based bonds as Africa's most powerful tool for solving the water crisis
18th May 2026 Across the African continent, water infrastructure is under increasing strain. The compounding pressures of accelerating urbanisation, decaying... →
ActionSA Commends the Progress Made on Stabilising Water Network in Tshwane
24th April 2026 ActionSA commends progress made by the current administration under ActionSA Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya on stabilising the water network in the City of... →
