South Africa has no shortage of water policies, strategies or regulations.
Yet despite a comprehensive legislative framework, the country continues to grapple with:
The challenge, industry leaders agreed during the Country Spotlight: South Africa session at Water Security Africa (hosted during Enlit Africa), is to ensure that existing policies are effectively implemented.
Bringing together representatives from government, industry and the private sector, the discussion explored why implementation continues to lag, what reforms are needed to restore confidence in the sector, and how collaboration can unlock South Africa’s water future.
Opening the discussion, moderator Mmaphefo Thwala, Water Sector Manager, EWSETA, highlighted the scale of the challenge facing the country.
South Africa is confronting deteriorating infrastructure, declining water quality, increasing climate variability and significant investment requirements to secure water services through 2050.
While these issues are well documented, panellists argued that the fundamental obstacle is not a lack of legislation.
Benoît Le Roy, Co-Founder, South African Water Chamber NPC, noted that while South Africa already possesses strong policies and regulations, the real problem lies in implementation at municipal level.
“The gap between policy and implementation is that local government is not playing the game.”
According to Le Roy, municipalities carry the responsibility of acting as both Water Services Authorities and Water Services Providers, yet many lack the financial sustainability, institutional capacity and governance required to fulfil these mandates effectively.
Representing the Department of Water and Sanitation, Provincial Head for the Western Cape, Ntombizanele Mary Billa-Mupariwa, agreed that the country’s policy framework remains robust.
“South Africa has one of the best policy frameworks. The challenge is execution and consistency.”
She pointed to shortages in technical skills, financial capacity and consequence management as major barriers preventing effective delivery, adding that current legislative reviews aim to strengthen accountability and improve implementation across the sector.
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A recurring theme throughout the session was that financial sustainability cannot be achieved without stronger governance.
Le Roy highlighted how municipal revenue intended for water services is often redirected elsewhere, preventing utilities from maintaining infrastructure, reducing losses or paying bulk water suppliers.
Using Johannesburg as an example, he explained how financial instability ultimately undermines operational performance, limiting investment in critical projects such as reservoir upgrades and non-revenue water reduction.
Panellists argued that ring-fencing water revenues and strengthening financial accountability will be critical if municipalities are to restore confidence among investors, development finance institutions and bulk suppliers.
The proposed amendments to the Water Services Act were identified as an important opportunity to clarify institutional responsibilities while strengthening municipal performance and governance.
Offering an industrial perspective, Bashan Govender, Manager: Environmental Compliance SA Region – SA PGM & Gold Operations, Sibanye Stillwater, explained that water security has become a strategic business priority rather than simply an environmental compliance issue.
Mining companies increasingly view water resilience as essential to operational continuity, requiring long-term investment in infrastructure, treatment technologies and alternative water sources.
He stressed that industry can no longer rely solely on municipal supply and must proactively develop diversified water strategies that reduce operational risk while supporting surrounding communities where possible.
The discussion reinforced that South Africa’s future water security will depend on reducing reliance on traditional surface water supplies.
The Department of Water and Sanitation encouraged both municipalities and industrial users to accelerate investment in alternative water sources, including:
While recent rainfall has improved dam levels, panellists warned against complacency.
As the Department noted, today’s healthy storage levels should not be mistaken for long-term security.
Climate variability means future rainfall patterns remain uncertain, making diversification essential for building resilience.
Across the discussion there was broad agreement that government alone cannot solve South Africa’s water challenges. Instead, stronger collaboration between municipalities, industry, financiers and the private sector will be required to mobilise the investment, expertise and innovation needed to rehabilitate ageing infrastructure and expand water services.
Le Roy highlighted the growing role of blended finance models and the emerging Water Partnership Office in attracting both commercial and development finance into priority projects.
However, unlocking these opportunities will depend on creating an environment where municipalities are financially stable, operationally capable and able to build investor confidence.
One of the strongest messages from the session was that water security has moved beyond being an operational issue.
For businesses, unreliable municipal supply, deteriorating infrastructure and increasing climate risks now represent direct threats to production, investment and economic growth.
At the same time, municipalities face mounting pressure to improve governance, strengthen service delivery and build financial resilience.
Ultimately, the conversation made it clear that South Africa already knows what needs to be done. The priority now is ensuring that implementation matches policy ambition.
With stronger accountability, diversified water sources, greater investment and meaningful collaboration between the public and private sectors, the country has an opportunity to shift from managing water crises to building long-term water resilience.
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