SA water crisis: Upgrades, private deals to be prioritised over councillor salary hikes
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu is planning to overhaul the South Africa's water industry.
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu plans to overhaul the national water industry and strip municipalities of responsibility for its provision, as interruptions to supply anger citizens two months ahead of national elections. Mchunu’s plans come as opposition politicians seize upon the interruptions as evidence that water supply is a developing crisis in Africa’s most industrialised economy, as they campaign ahead of the May 29 ballot. The country is already hindered by the failings of the state logistics company to fix snarled ports and freight-rail lines. Almost daily power cuts, one of which interrupted Mchunu’s speech at the conference, are also hindering economic growth.
The changes will also earmark income from water provision for the upgrade and repair of infrastructure and to fund partnerships with private companies, rather than increasing"salaries for councillors," he said.
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