Addis ababa: Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina says ageing infrastructure, leaks, and poor governance are undermining the reliable supply of water. Speaking to media on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Majodina reiterated that the country's major dams hold sufficient water, but systemic weaknesses in municipal infrastructure are placing water security at risk.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister's remarks come amid ongoing water supply challenges in Johannesburg, where residents have experienced intermittent shortages, low pressure, and disruptions linked to system strain. Majodina explained that her department's constitutional mandate is primarily focused on bulk water resource development, including building dams, tunnels, and canals, while municipalities are responsible for reticulation and distribution. However, national government has stepped in to support local interventions, where possible.
She said working with Rand Water, the government has invested in major bulk infrastructure, including upgrades to the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Works System, one of the largest facilities in the country. 'That plant has the capacity not only to supply South Africa but even to provide treated water to neighbouring countries,' the Minister said. The core problem, she stressed, lies in municipal infrastructure that has not kept pace with rapid urban growth.
Majodina also noted that South Africa's per capita water consumption far exceeds international norms. While the global benchmark stands at approximately 173 litres per person per day, South Africa's consumption has been recorded at around 239 litres per person per day. 'That is abnormal. If we continue at that rate, we are going to collapse the system,' she warned. To stabilise supply in Johannesburg, she said authorities have implemented load shifting between pump stations and introduced 'water soft locking', a measure to reduce water pressure across the system.
The Minister further raised concern about illegal connections, vandalism, and so-called 'water mafias', who tamper with infrastructure. 'Our infrastructure is vandalised day in and day out. Illegal connections are contributing to losses and destabilising the system.' The Minister highlighted the significance of the proposed Water Services Amendment Bill, which seeks to separate the roles of water services authorities and water services providers.
Looking ahead, she said the government will intensify its focus on groundwater development, particularly in underserved communities that have never had access to clean piped water. While acknowledging that water challenges extend beyond South Africa to the broader continent, Majodina maintained that the country's immediate priority is fixing infrastructure, strengthening governance, and restoring public confidence.