The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has found systemic failures in Gauteng Province water and sanitation services, citing ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance, water losses and weak accountability.
The Commission has also raised concerns about the growing reliance on water tankers, warning that the system could be benefiting service providers and corrupt municipal officials at the expense of communities.
The findings follow a three-day inquiry conducted in May 2026, after persistent complaints from communities struggling with unreliable water supply.
The Commission found that Gauteng’s water crisis goes beyond a shortage of water, pointing instead to ageing infrastructure, electricity interruptions, inadequate storage capacity and weaknesses in municipal distribution networks.
It has made eight recommendations, including prioritising failing wastewater treatment plants, strengthening bulk-water infrastructure and tightening the regulation of water tanker operations.
The Commission has also questioned the growing dependence on water tankers, warning that what should be an emergency intervention is increasingly becoming a permanent source of water for some communities.
It argues that the millions spent on tanker contracts could instead be directed towards repairing and upgrading failing infrastructure to provide sustainable water services.
–SABC–
