AG warns of deepening water crisis

A special audit has exposed failing infrastructure, high losses and mismanaged municipal water services

- Sheree Bega

Environmental scarcity, infrastructure decay, poor governance and weak accountability across the government's water value chain are undermining its ability to deliver safe, reliable water, according to the Auditor General of South Africa.

Its 2025 Source to Supply: A Shared Responsibility for a Water-Resilient Future special audit report, tabled in parliament last week, paints a picture of worsening institutional weaknesses reflecting a deepening water crisis. An audit of 57 major water infrastructure projects valued at R24.35 billion found that 82% had material findings, with average delays of 32 months.

Four projects managed by the Water Trading Entity (WTE) and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) alone accounted for 72% of the total project value, yet dam-related projects were delayed by more than five years on average.

Among the most severe delays were two water treatment works projects at Amatola Water and Magalies Water, both running more than seven years behind schedule and a bulk water supply project at Vaal Central Water delayed by over six years.

At Amatola Water, the upgraded Binfield water treatment works was not fully utilised after completion, pointing to deficiencies in planning and alignment with actual water service needs.

"We raised multiple findings on the infrastructure projects of water service authorities," the report noted.

Five of the seven reservoir projects audited had findings, with three delayed by an average of 24 months, and two affected by both commissioning and cost failures.

"The lived experiences of our people reflect that not even the most basic of human needs — reliable access to safe drinking water — is being met," Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke said.

While the National Development Plan envisages universal access to affordable, safe water by 2030, she warned that the target is unlikely to be met without urgent intervention.