For a soundbite from the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation Mr Leon Basson: https://iono.fm/e/1707482
Parliament, Sunday, 16 August 2026 – Residents from across the greater Nkangala District Municipality have called on the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation to ensure that the proposals contained in the Water Services Amendment Bill translate into tangible improvements in the lives of communities.
The call was made during the committee’s second public hearing on the Bill in Mpumalanga, held at the Sinqobile Community Hall in Emalahleni.
While residents expressed overwhelming support for the Bill, they cautioned that legislation must not be a paper exercise. Participants stressed that they have experienced instances where legislation is passed without translating in meaningful improvements in service delivery. They highlighted persistent challenges relating to access to reliable and quality water, ageing and dilapidated water and sanitation infrastructure, dependence on water tankers and widespread environmental pollution caused by sewage spillages.
The growing reliance on water tankers was a particular concern. They said that tanker services cannot be a permanent substitute for properly functioning water infrastructure. Furthermore, they raised concerns that, in some instances, the water supplied through tankers is dirty and does not meet the required quality standards.
Participants also raised concerns about corruption and poor governance at local government level, arguing that these challenges contribute directly to the failure to provide sustainable water and sanitation services. They also made allegations including that some water-tanker service providers may benefit from the vandalism of water infrastructure, creating a continued demand for emergency tanker services.
Some residents argued that municipalities must be sufficiently capacitated to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities and questioned the extent to which private service providers should be involved in the provision of water services. They warned that outsourcing services could create opportunities for corruption and mismanagement if effective oversight mechanisms are not in place.
At the same time, residents welcomed the Bill’s proposal to empower the Minister of Water and Sanitation to intervene where water and sanitation services are inadequate. Concerns were raised about whether the Department of Water and Sanitation has the necessary institutional capacity to implement the proposed measures effectively.
The committee emphasised that one of the important proposals contained in the Bill is the ability to suspend or revoke a licence where a water services provider fails to deliver an adequate and quality service. The committee further stressed that communities have an important role to play in holding municipalities and other water services providers accountable.
The submissions from Nkangala echoed concerns raised during the earlier public hearing in Graskop, particularly around the province’s growing dependence on water tankers and the quality of water being delivered to communities.
The committee also highlighted that the success of the Water Services Amendment Bill must ultimately be measured by whether it improves the lived experiences of communities. The public hearings provide an important opportunity for residents to influence legislation that seeks to strengthen accountability and improve the delivery of essential water and sanitation services.
The committee concludes its Mpumalanga leg of public hearings on the Bill today at the Gert Sibande District Municipality Council Chambers in Ermelo.
MPUMALANGA HEARINGS
DATE | DISTRICT/LOCAL MUNICIPALITY | VENUE/TIME |
Sunday, 16 August | Gert Sibande District Municipality | Council Chamber, Ermelo: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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