The nine boards responsible for management of bulk water supply in SA are generally well-run, providing good quality water.
SA’s water problem has the makings of a national catastrophe unless urgent action is taken. Two privately-run water concessions, one in KwaZulu-Natal and the other in Mpumalanga, offer a glimmer of hope for the country – if struggling municipalities can be persuaded to relinquish control of water and waste management systems.
The nine water boards responsible for management of bulk water supply in SA are generally well-run, providing good quality water to the municipal areas they serve.The breakdown is happening at the municipal level where water revenues are cannibalised for other purposes, such as paying salaries, perks and corrupt tenders.
Under the Water Services Amendment Bill introduced last year, municipalities risk losing their Water System Provider licences if they do not demonstrate the minimum competence and capabilities required for the job.Both Siza and Silulumanzi are run by South African Water Works , which is majority owned by Mergence Investment Managers.
It’s a system that can easily be replicated across the country’s 257 municipalities, says Shyam Misra, group CEO at SAWW.Silulumanzi is responsible for four water systems in and around Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. This means that SAWW accounts for five of the 26 water supply systems to receive Blue Drop certification by the Department of Water and Sanitation in 2023.
National Treasury expects municipalities to spend 8% of their property, plant and equipment valuation on maintenance. Very few do. The result is evident in untended water leaks across the country and deteriorating water quality. The Siza water concession in Ballito serves 70 000 to 80 000 customers a day, rising to more than 200 000 in the holiday season. This means SAWW must cater for a seasonal surge in demand while still supplying its regular customers.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Johannesburg residents warned of more water outages amid Rand Water maintenanceJohannesburg residents warned of more water outages amid Rand Water maintenance
Read more »
Joburg Water stops unplanned maintenance, but residents still face double-whammy water outagesJoburg Water stops unplanned maintenance, but residents still face double-whammy water outages
Read more »
Parts of Free State face water shedding as SA’s water woes worsenIf the planned water shedding persists, it would entail reducing water supply to 30% capacity.
Read more »
Several Johannesburg suburbs set for 8-hour water shutdownParts of Johannesburg will face a temporary water interruption as Johannesburg Water undertakes critical infrastructure upgrades
Read more »
Hammanskraal's Water Plant Delayed; Tankers Continue Water DeliveryTshwane said the water purification plant that would service the Hammanskraal community would be installed by September 2024, six months after the initial deadline.
Read more »
Tshwane Municipality says deteriorating water infrastructure forced it to spend R450m a year on water tankersThe tankers are used to provide clean water to communities where there is no access to water or the water is unsafe for human consumption.
Read more »