South Africa’s new Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, addressed Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on Tuesday for the first time since the current administration took office. During her appearance, the Minister clarified that South Africa does not face a national bulk water crisis. Instead, she stressed that water delivery challenges stem from operational failures at the local government level.
Appearing candid and determined, Minister Majodina addressed the committee’s questions and presented a stark overview of the water sector’s most pressing issues. While the country has adequate raw water resources to meet its overall demand, she noted that deficits in water supply exist largely due to mismanagement and financial instability in municipalities and local water boards.
“There’s no crisis when it comes to bulk water supply. We do have [enough water],” said Minister Majodina during her address. “But when it comes to access of water through the taps, there’s a challenge.”
This statement by the Minister comes at a time when communities in several provinces are facing routine water cuts and aging infrastructure. Despite the abundance of water at the national level, millions of South Africans still struggle to access clean and consistent water in their homes.
According to the Minister, one of the key contributors to this problem is the poor performance of water services authorities. Of the 144 licensed water operators across the country, 105 are underperforming. These underperforming entities are often managed by municipalities that lack the technical expertise, operational discipline, and financial capacity to deliver services effectively.
Minister Reveals R25 Billion in Unpaid Debts by Municipalities
Another major obstacle highlighted by the Minister is the overwhelming debt owed by municipalities to regional water boards. As of the end of April, municipalities collectively owe more than R25 billion to water boards. This financial backlog, the Minister warned, threatens to collapse essential services in the water sector and further delay infrastructure maintenance and expansion.
“Municipalities are simply not honouring their agreements to pay,” said Minister Majodina. “This debt is not just a figure. It’s a direct cause of service disruptions and deteriorating infrastructure.”
The Minister explained that water boards rely on payments from municipalities to maintain pipelines, dams, and treatment plants. Without consistent payments, water boards cannot invest in necessary upgrades or respond to growing demand from expanding urban and rural populations.
In an effort to address these systemic issues, Minister Majodina called for a clear separation of powers between service authorities (local municipalities) and service providers (water boards and utilities). According to the Minister, allowing the same entity to both regulate and deliver services is creating a conflict of interest and making accountability impossible.
“That is why we are bringing reforms,” said the Minister. “There must be a separation of powers. We cannot be a service authority as well as a service provider. The current structure does not support effective water delivery.”
Majodina emphasized that the national department can only intervene to a certain extent. Ultimately, municipalities are constitutionally mandated to deliver basic services, including water, but many are failing to meet this responsibility due to a combination of poor governance, corruption, and lack of skills.
Tuesday’s SCOPA session marked Minister Majodina’s first appearance before the committee since assuming her new role. Her direct engagement and transparent responses were welcomed by committee members, who emphasized the need for stronger oversight and swift action.
They approach signals a shift toward greater accountability and transparency in the Department of Water and Sanitation. Her statements made clear that while national-level resources and policies are in place, the success of water service delivery hinges on effective local governance and financial discipline.
Whether or not they proposed reforms will result in improved water access remains to be seen. For now, Majodina appears committed to reshaping how water services are delivered across South Africa. By focusing on structural reform, enforcing financial accountability, and holding local governments to task, the Minister is taking a firm stance on a long-standing crisis that has left millions without reliable water access.
Her leadership will be closely watched in the months ahead as communities, Parliament, and water boards look for signs of progress. For many South Africans, the hope is that her promises will soon turn into tangible results.
Source- EWN
