Sustainability matters more than ever

SOUTH Africa has been pushed to the brink by the degradation and mismanagement of essential infrastructure, namely water supply and management. In Gauteng, residents and communities are subject to frequent and widespread water outages.

- STEPHEN SADIE

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo reports that of the 5 billion litres of treated water received by Rand Water, 2.3 billion litres are lost on its way to consumers, the result of unmaintained infrastructure and illegal connections.

The South African Institution of Civil Engineering reports that more than 40% of water produced and supplied to over 80% of the country’s population is lost before it reaches them.

The delivery of essential public services like water is a nonnegotiable component of South Africa’s socioeconomic growth and development.

For a turnaround strategy to have any impact, stakeholders and utility firms need to enshrine accountability and transparency into every process, every meeting and every decision. With enhanced governance, South Africa can right the ship in improving service delivery and rebuilding public trust in our institutions.