South Africa’s Water Crisis Deepens as Municipal Debt Threatens Services for Millions

South Africa’s water supply crisis is deepening, with rising municipal debt and crumbling infrastructure threatening to leave millions without access to clean water, Bloomberg reports.

According to Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister David Mahlobo, a number of water agencies across the country are teetering on the brink of collapse due to unpaid bills.

“They will never make it to next March if these debts are not paid,” he told City Press, adding that the agencies are owed over 23 billion rand ($1.3 billion).

The failure of these agencies, which also owe money to the state, will have dire consequences for several regions, including Gauteng, the most populous province, as well as Limpopo, North West, parts of the Northern Cape, and the Free State. In total, water services for nearly 8 million people are at risk.

Mahlobo explained that the ministry borrows funds to build dams and canals, and then relies on water-use charges to recover the costs and ensure operational continuity. However, the failure of municipalities to pay their bills has put the system under immense pressure.

To address the mounting crisis, South Africa is considering a range of solutions, including the creation of special purpose vehicles to manage water services more effectively and public-private partnerships to secure funding for critical infrastructure projects.

“The department is looking at how it can leverage private investment to enhance our water systems, similar to the arrangements made with Eskom for electricity supply,” Mahlobo said.