The Water and Sanitation Department has spent almost R54 billion over the past five years to replace and refurbish the country’s water infrastructure, but this is still not enough to address South Africa’s water crisis.

This was revealed in the Water and Sanitation Minister’s response to a recent Parliamentary Question.

Build One South Africa’s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster asked the minister about the current backlog in providing water and sanitation in different areas of South Africa and the total cost attached to the backlog.

In addition, she asked what the total amount her department has spent on replacing and refurbishing water infrastructure in the past five financial years was.

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said the estimated cost to address the backlog is R89.9 billion per year over the next 10 years. 

“These are projections for capital requirements to address the water infrastructure backlogs over the next 10 years, which include refurbishment and renewal of ageing infrastructure; upgrades to serve increases in service levels and sustain effective service delivery; as well as new infrastructure for growing human settlements and new economic nodes,” she said.

The minister further revealed that the department has spent approximately R53.8 billion in the past five financial years to replace and refurbish water infrastructure.

This comprises R45.1 billion in departmental conditional grants to Water Services Authorities and R8.7 billion to departmental entities for water services infrastructure development.

Despite these significant investments, South Africa’s water crisis has only grown over the past five years, with 30% of water supply systems (WSSs) now in critical condition. 

This means these systems require “urgent intervention for all aspects of water services,” which shows the immense strain on South Africa’s water infrastructure. 

Although water-shedding has become more common in Gauteng, South Africa’s water crisis has become a national issue.

Anlu Keeve of the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) noted that water infrastructure mismanagement is a persistent issue across local municipalities. 

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina

It is important to note that South Africa has ample water resources to meet the country’s demand – supply is not the issue. Rather, delivering the supply from dams and reservoirs to end-users remains a challenge. 

In several provinces, water losses exceed 50%, meaning more than half of the water from bulk suppliers like Rand Water fails to reach consumers.

Multiple factors contribute to this decline. Non-payment of contractors, laboratories, and service providers leads to equipment breakdowns, dysfunctional pumping and treatment systems, and service interruptions. 

Vandalism and theft of electric cables and other infrastructure further degrade these systems. 

In addition, many water systems are operating beyond their design capacity without the necessary upgrades, expansions, and repairs.

Non-functional boreholes and insufficient flow monitoring worsen the problem. Technical and management capacity varies widely, and many institutions lack access to adequately skilled professionals, making it even harder to maintain water quality. 

Currently, 45% of South African municipalities cannot provide basic water supply data, including monthly consumption figures, which hampers any effort to address service delivery and water loss.

The Water and Sanitation Department’s 2023 Blue Drop Report was a critical step forward, revealing that 277 water systems – nearly 30% of the total – are in dire need of intervention, up from 103 in 2014.

The IRR’s Blueprint for Growth report also warned that continued deterioration could make water-shedding, which has already been implemented in parts of Gauteng, even more common across the country. 

Reservoirs near end-users are increasingly unable to be refilled from dams, resulting in water shortages. 

Water Ledger’s Benoit Le Roy said this is not due to small surface leaks but to major leaks in underground main lines.

As summer approaches and temperatures rise, demand will further strain the system. “The demand has gone up in recent days, and we are already on the edge – at the cliff edge, if you like,” Le Roy said. 

The only short-term measure is water-shedding, whether planned or unplanned, though it risks serious consequences. 

Shutting off reservoirs can create air pockets in downstream infrastructure, which can block water flow or burst pipes, worsening the situation.

Le Roy warned that water-shedding is not a sustainable solution, as water systems are not designed to be turned on and off. 

Aside from risking further infrastructure damage, water-shedding could also stifle economic activity and potentially incite social unrest.