Parliament, Thursday, 20 August 2026– The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation will this coming weekend hold public hearings in the North West Province on the Water Services Amendment Bill [B24-2025], providing communities with an opportunity to make their voices heard on legislation aimed at strengthening the delivery, regulation and sustainability of water and sanitation services.
The North West public hearings follow similar engagements held in Mpumalanga, where the committee received substantive inputs from members of the public and stakeholders on the proposed legislation.
The hearings form part of Parliament's constitutional responsibility, in terms of Section 59 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, to facilitate meaningful public participation in its legislative and other processes. The committee has also conducted educational programmes on the Bill to ensure that communities have access to information that enables them to make informed and meaningful submissions.
The Bill seeks to respond to persistent challenges affecting South Africa's water sector, including unreliable water and sanitation services, inadequate management and maintenance of water infrastructure, declining water quality, gaps in accountability and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Among the key proposals contained in the Bill are the introduction of a mandatory licencing system for all water service providers, minimum competency standards for water services professionals, clearer separation of responsibilities between Water Services Authorities and Water Services Providers, stronger penalties for non-compliance and enhanced enforcement powers for the Minister in instances of persistent service-delivery failures.
Committee Chairperson Mr Leon Basson said public participation was essential to ensuring that the legislation responds to the realities experienced by communities across the country. “The country's water value chain has experienced various challenges. This Bill proposes measures that are intended to remedy these shortcomings, and it is important that people participate in crafting and strengthening the legislation,” said Mr Basson.
He emphasised that public participation must go beyond a procedural requirement and provide communities with a genuine opportunity to influence the legislative process. “Public participation is not merely a tick-box exercise. It is a constitutional imperative that ensures legislation is responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people. This process must be as inclusive, accessible and far-reaching as possible.”
The committee therefore calls on residents, traditional leaders, community organisations, civil society organisations, water-sector stakeholders and other interested parties in the North West to attend the public hearings and make submissions on the Bill.
The committee particularly encourages communities to share their experiences of water and sanitation service delivery, infrastructure management, water quality, accountability and enforcement. Such inputs will assist Parliament in assessing whether the proposed legislative measures adequately address challenges on the ground and whether further amendments are required.
The public hearings are an important part of the legislative process and provide communities with a direct opportunity to contribute to legislation that could have a lasting impact on the delivery and governance of water and sanitation services. The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation encourages all South Africans, and particularly communities in the North West Province, to participate actively in these engagements and help shape legislation that promotes reliable, accountable and sustainable water and sanitation services for present and future generations.
Participants at the public hearings in Mpumalanga expressed overwhelming support for the Water Services Amendment Bill (B24-2025), particularly its proposals aimed at strengthening accountability within the water services sector. Participants welcomed the introduction of a licensing framework, highlighting the potential positive impact of making water service providers accountable to the conditions of their licences. The possibility of a licence being revoked where providers fail to meet their obligations was viewed as an important incentive to improve performance and ensure greater accountability for the provision of water services.
NORTH WEST
DATE DISTRICT/LOCAL MUNICIPALITY VENUE/TIME
Friday, 21 August Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District
Greater Taung Local Municipality Depot Hall, Taung
10:00
Saturday, 22 August Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality
Mahikeng Local Municipality Mahikeng Civil Centre
10:00
Sunday, 23 August Dr Kenneth Kaunda District
City of Matlosana Local Municipality Auditorium Hall, Klerksdorp Civic Centre
10:00
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND SANITATION, MR LEON BASSON
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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