South Africa: National Water Action Plan a Practical Solution to Restore Water Supply Reliability

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a SAnews.gov.za report from Tshwane dated 27 July 2026, reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa used his weekly newsletter to say government is prioritising implementation of South Africa’s National Water Action Plan after its launch the previous week. The plan is presented as a practical response to unreliable municipal water services and is organised around five intervention areas aimed at immediate technical fixes and reforms.

According to the report, Ramaphosa said the National Water Crisis Committee, WATERCOM, will meet regularly to monitor delivery and hold departments and public entities responsible. He identified poor municipal management, maintenance and financing as central problems, saying revenue from water is often diverted to other municipal needs while large volumes are lost through leaks, theft or non-billing. The Water Services Amendment Bill before Parliament is intended to clarify the roles of water authorities and operators, with providers required to meet licensing standards.

The report says the plan also includes financial reforms to keep water and sanitation revenue within utilities, supported through the Metropolitan Trading Services Reform Programme. Ramaphosa said government would seek private finance and expertise while maintaining public responsibility for water, including affordability and universal access.

Reported measures already underway include water boards assisting municipalities with boreholes and emergency supplies, redirected grants to poorly performing municipalities, legal action over National Water Act violations, and six Catchment Management Agencies. Government is said to be investing R24 billion annually in municipal water and sanitation through national grants, with about 800 projects in progress. The report also cited completed borehole projects reaching roughly 30,000 households, further drilling plans, and major projects in uMkhanyakude, Thembisile Hani and Emfuleni.