Letters | SA’s water crisis needs more action now

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent deployment of Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina and Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa to tackle Johannesburg’s worsening water crisis, prioritising action over attending the 2026 State of the Nation Address, was a necessary and welcome move. However, dispatching national leaders to deal with Johannesburg’s crisis alone will not resolve the broader problem facing citizens across South Africa. Municipalities around South Africa are facing similar challenges and also need urgent national attention.

Residents in many municipalities are facing daily challenges due to unreliable water supply, frequent electricity outages and unsatisfactory refuse collection, among other service delivery issues. In many cases, local leadership does not appear to fully grasp the scale of hardship people are experiencing. This situation has developed over many years.

The causes like poor financial planning, lack of skilled staff, weak oversight and increasing pressure on ageing infrastructure due to growing demand, have long been known. Many warnings have been issued, and solutions have already been identified. What is now needed is decisive, handson intervention from the president and the Presidency.

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Skilled professionals and practical technical support must be deployed where they are most needed to fix failing systems and restore basic services. Access to water, electricity and other basic essential municipal services is not a luxury, it is a constitutional right.

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