by the Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG)
The water crisis is something that civil society have been warning government about for decades and much like the electricity crisis, we do not see government resolving the issue any time soon.
EMG, as a member of the South African Water Caucus (SAWC) has collected reports from community members in 8 Provinces across the country over the last week in an attempt to illustrate how widespread and deeply serious the water crisis is. We currently have reports from:
Eastern Cape, Makhanda Municipality
Free State, Welcome, Matjhabeng Municipality, Lejoeleputsoa District
Gauteng, Ekhureleni
Gauteng, Sebokeng Municipality
Gauteng, Vanderbijl Park Municipality
KwaZulu Natal, Ugu Municipality, Pumula and surrounding areas like Hiberdene
Limpopo, Tubatsefetakgomu Municipality, Sekhukhuni
Limpopo, Musina Local Municipality
Limpopo, Makhada Municipality
Limpopo, Thohoyandou
Mpumalanga, Steve Tshwete Municipality, Middleberg
North West Province, Greater Taung Municipality
Western Cape, City of Cape Town Municipality, Khayelitsha, Site B
Both the electricity and water crises we are facing, are the result of many years of increasing demand and infrastructure neglect which have been compounded by the loss of state resources through corruption. In the late 1990’s there was an awareness of the massive demand for both energy and water to make up for the years of Apartheid neglect as well as the need to maintain existing infrastructure. Whilst delivery was increased, it never matched the need.
Mbeki’s austerity policy of GEAR lead to the privatization of many state infrastructure maintenance responsibilities. This resulted in the loss of key skills, neglect of maintenance and opened these service up for the types of corruption and sabotage we are seeing today. All these issues are compounded by the environmental pollution of our waterways by mines and other companies alongside under resourced and ineffective policing.
Further exacerbating the problem is how water is governed in the country. While National Government is the custodian of all water it is the legal responsibility of municipalities to both supply water and collect payment for water supply. For more information on Water Governance see our factsheet.
From the reports we have collected, what is clear is that there are multiple issues relating to water access and these range in severity from restrictions where water is not available all the time to unannounced cuts, dirty undrinkable water, insufficient or inoperable communal taps, dry taps for weeks at a time, RDP houses being left unconnected to the water system for years and in the worst case scenario complete failure leading to communities having to pay R750 for 220 litre’s of water. Where water is supplied there are serious and ongoing problems around dysfunctional billing processes undermining cost recovery and feeding into the challenge infrastructure development and maintenance.
Pollution of water resources was raised as an important contributing issue, these included failing sewerage systems leading to sewerage in homes, back yards and on the streets, this is exacerbated by load shedding, dumping in rivers and wetlands because of lack of sanitation and waste management, acid mine drainage where a mine operating outside their permit releases water into a dam which overflows into community houses. There are also reports in Gauteng of the continuation of the use of the bucket system.
Community members also raised allegations of corruption and mismanagement, whilst unsubstantiated, include systems being paid for but not built, lack of follow-up on reported cases of corruption amongst others. The Auditor General’s report showing how many municipalities are dysfunctional are a good reflection of the challenges at this level.
Communities describe how issues are reported to councilors, mayor, environmental officers in some cases MEC’s and COGTA have been involved, communities have undertaken strikes and protests and in some cases national press coverage has been received. Promises have been made but nothing is resolved even when municipalities are placed under administration and in many cases issues are getting worse. The impacts of all this are far reaching and gendered, there are issues related to health, economic opportunities like tourism in the Ugu district, in one report school children were sent home early when parents weren’t at home yet.
From all these reports it is clear that the problems are extensive and complicated. Challenges can differ significantly from one area to the next with other issues like infrastructure neglect or challenges with overall governance cross cutting most. Whilst there are very clearly many in government today we can and should hold directly responsible we have to look at the underlying issues that extend to even global economic policy. The water crisis, like the energy and unemployment crisis will not be solved without significant system change. This needs to start with a more holistic approach to all the problems we face which are all interrelated.
It takes water to generate energy and it takes energy to provide effective water and sanitation, this relationship poses complex challenges for South Africa which if not addressed will contribute to the now regular outbreaks of Cholera in the country. South Africa is a water scarce country and the current load shedding regime has impacts on safe water distribution. The way we generate energy and provide water, and the way we use these resources for economic development impacts negatively on people and the environment.
Poor and marginalized communities are the worst affected by water insecurity, energy insecurity and climate change. They are also less likely to experience meaningful benefits from economic ‘development’ evidenced by the ever increasing inequality gap, placing water and energy access a key social justice issue. For more information on the water energy nexus read our fact sheet.
Unlike the energy crisis we are all constantly complaining bitterly about, the water crisis has received little real attention but it is much bigger. One that marginalized communities have been facing for much longer than load shedding and on a much more sustained basis. This is an incredibly serious issue that continuously undermines the constitutional rights of many South Africans, it has already lead to illness and death and if not addressed as a matter of urgency has the potential of taking many more.
For interviews and more information please contact:
Mduduzi Tshabalala 061 355 9614 Waterdal, Gauteng / SAWC
Bongani kaMthembu 071 702 0427 Vaal, Gauteng / SAWC
Apiwe Mdunyelwa 078 520 1730 / EMG & SAWC
Mandy Moussouris 083 415 3085 / EMG
Nick Hamer 084 722 3458 / EMG