Tagged:

What Lies Ahead for Water-Scarce South Africa?

In South Africa, the water crisis is severe due to widespread infrastructure failures, inadequate government response, and a lack of clean water access for millions, which threatens public health and socioeconomic stability.

It is estimated that eThekwini Municipality loses 54% of its water revenue due to leaks, thefts and unbilled consumption. If these leaks are not repaired, water rationing will continue until a new dam is constructed on the Umkhomazi River in 2032, reports Daily Maverick.

In the Eastern Cape, there has been no access to tap water in the rural village of Lugada for over 30 years since democracy. The residents rely on a damaged borehole and walk long distances to collect water from a well. After a contractor damaged the infrastructure, a pipe installation project scheduled for 2021 was halted. In some villages, water infrastructure was installed years ago but has never worked. 

Meanwhile, South Africa faces a looming water scarcity crisis that could exacerbate climate change-induced crises and lead to conflict. In Gauteng, scientists have identified the province's water crisis as a potential tipping point for climate change soon. Several other regions throughout the country are also experiencing severe water shortages, posing a threat not just to economic stability, but also to the possibility of conflict escalation, writes Dhesigen Naidoo for the Institute of Security Studies.

InFocus

Bongane Motaung/GroundUp

Learners fetch water from the river, which they say is dirty.

Follow AllAfrica

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.