South Africa water committee warns of unsustainable municipal interventions

The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has warned that national interventions under Section 63 of the Water Services Act may fail to produce sustainable results due to persistent municipal capacity constraints. While the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has made progress, including the refurbishment of four major sewage pump stations and the replacement of collapsed pipelines in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, concerns remain regarding long-term maintenance.

Committee Chairperson Leon Basson stated that municipalities currently lack the necessary skills and human resource capacity to operate and maintain infrastructure once national interventions conclude. The committee noted that municipalities represent a weakness in the water value chain, exposing the entire system to significant risks. Strengthening municipal systems is deemed essential to ensure the socio-economic benefits of reliable water and sanitation services.