water crisis south africalatest news & developments
Modus operandi: The water thieves use intimidation, extortion and threats to force people to rely on private water tankers. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Water mafias: It’s like working in a war zone, say municipal workers

Criminal syndicates destroy and manipulate water infrastructure for profit, undermining the state’s efforts to ensure water for all

  • Sheree Bega
11 min read
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has approved a temporary increase in water abstraction by Rand Water to stabilise Gauteng’s strained municipal water systems (DWS/X)

Water and sanitation department ramping up reforms, interventions to avoid water crisis

Of South Africa’s 144 water service authorities, 105 are performing ‘dismally’, according to Minister Pemmy Majodina

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read
A Rand Water team carries out planned maintenance at the Bergbron water utility in Johannesburg. (Supplied)

Urban water crisis deepens as poor infrastructure, shortages and unpaid bills take a toll

Maintaining infrastructure, fixing leaks and better information sharing are the first crucial steps to fixing the mess

  • Sheree Bega
16 min read
Residents of Hammanskraal have to rely on infrequent tankers to supply them with clean drinking water. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

No platitudes, please: Municipalities, politicians must be brutally honest about the water crisis

Citizens don’t need language that flirts around the issue. We need clear concise communications regarding the water crisis

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
Gauteng residents collecting water from a tanker. File photo

Our water crisis is and has always been about political will

In Gauteng, the single biggest issue right now is water scarcity. In KZN, it is scarcity and the pollution of river systems

  • Des Erasmus
4 min read