Widespread water shortages and service disruptions have sparked violent protests and exposed a deepening financial crisis between municipalities and bulk water suppliers, highlighting a national struggle for reliable water access.
This past week, communities in Mmabatho, outside Mahikeng, and Westbury in Johannesburg took to the streets in frustration. Disgruntled residents barricaded roads with rocks and burning tyres, protesting against water outages they say have persisted for years. Key concerns included inconsistent supply, being left without running water for up to five consecutive days at a time, and a lack of alternative water provision.
The issue of water provision is twofold: aging local infrastructure fails to deliver water to taps, while a separate financial crisis threatens the bulk supply from major utilities.
In a drastic move underscoring the latter, Rand Water announced a 20% cut to the bulk potable water supply of the Merafong Local Municipality. This decision comes after the municipality failed to settle a staggering debt of over R1.4 billion. According to Rand Water, negotiations have collapsed, and the reduction is necessary to prevent further debt accumulation.
"We don't get any funding from the national fiscus... we rely solely on the funds that we collect from our customers," said Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo. "If they don't fulfill their obligations, that poses a threat to our medium and long-term sustainability."
Maroo stated that while other municipalities also owe significant debts, Merafong had failed to honor a payment agreement, leaving the utility with no choice but to implement restrictions.
Government Acknowledges Systemic Failures
Responding to the crisis, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo acknowledged the severe inconvenience and agitation caused by the water shortages. He pinpointed chronic under-investment in local water infrastructure as a root cause.
"Municipalities over time... have not invested in terms of water infrastructure to ensure reliability of supply," Mahlobo stated. He used Johannesburg as an example, noting the city requires approximately R3 billion annually for water infrastructure but has historically invested less than R1 billion.
The Deputy Minister outlined a multi-pronged approach, including:
Mahlobo emphasized the "user-pay principle" as sacrosanct but conceded that some municipalities simply cannot pay, requiring alternative solutions.
A National Challenge Demanding Urgent Solutions
The conversation between the officials reveals a tense standoff. While Rand Water, as a financially independent entity, must take tough measures to ensure its own survival, these actions inevitably impact end-users in already struggling municipalities.
The government's strategy appears to blend patient support with stricter financial discipline. However, with citizens facing dry taps and taking to the streets, the pressure is mounting for more immediate and effective solutions to a crisis that strikes at the very basic needs of millions of South Africans.