Parliament, Saturday, 11 October 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has concluded a week-long oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng provinces, with a renewed call for a structural shift in the delivery of water and sanitation services.
It has strongly advocated for the introduction of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) as a long-term solution in the sector. The committee believes that the introduction of the SPVs will alleviate the challenges that have riddled the sector for some time denying the people a fundamental right to water and healthy sanitation.
The chairperson of the committee, Mr Leon Basson, emphasised that municipalities continue to be the weakest link in the water value chain, undermining the efforts of water boards and compromising the availability of quality and healthy water to citizens. He said: “From poor infrastructure maintenance and growing debt to a critical shortage of skills, the challenges facing municipalities are urgent and require a fundamental mindset shift.”
Positive oversight highlights
The committee visited Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Works, where it commended the entity for the quality of infrastructure, the availability of the required skills within the entity, and for its proactive maintenance strategy. The committee noted the depth of ignorance of the municipalities that manifests itself in undermining water boards by their failure to manage and maintain local infrastructure.
Currently, 47% of treated water is lost as non-revenue water, mainly due to municipal inefficiencies and aging infrastructure.
SPVs as a sustainable service delivery model
Mr Basson reaffirmed the committee’s support for the SPV model as a viable and reliable way forward. He said: “A Special Purpose Vehicle offers a new, integrated model to manage water and sanitation infrastructure. It allows for ring-fenced finances, promotes investment in infrastructure, and creates space for partnerships between public entities and the private sector.”
The pilot SPV project between Rand Water and Emfuleni Local Municipality is expected to provide critical insights into the feasibility of this model nationwide.
Investment without reform is futile
While the committee welcomed ongoing infrastructure investments, such as the Upper and Lower uMkhomazi Water Projects in KZN and the construction of Brixton and Crosby Reservoirs in Johannesburg, it warned that these efforts will be in vain if municipalities do not urgently address water losses.
“Access to water will not improve if nearly half of it is lost through mismanagement and infrastructure failure,” Mr Basson warned.
Accountability in focus
The committee expressed its disappointment at the absence of the Mayor, MMC, and City Manager of eThekwini Municipality, who failed to attend a scheduled meeting to account for the state of water and sanitation in the metro. The committee has resolved to summon the metro leadership to Parliament to explain their plans to address ongoing water service challenges.
City of Johannesburg financial oversight
In Gauteng, concerns were raised regarding the financial model in the City of Johannesburg, which has led to the de facto defunding of Johannesburg Water. The committee has invited the National Treasury and the Office of the Auditor-General to gain a deeper understanding of the city's financial management and how reforms can be implemented effectively.
While the committee welcomed assurances that Trading Services Reforms are being introduced, it stressed the importance of ring-fencing resources to ensure the sustainability of entities like Johannesburg Water.
Commitment to universal access and development
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring equitable access to clean water for all South Africans, linking that directly to the country’s socio-economic development goals. “Our primary focus is to ensure that every South African has access to quality water and sanitation services. We will continue to enforce oversight, promote innovation, and demand accountability across all levels of government,” concluded Mr Basson.
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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