The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has called on government to declare the country’s escalating water shortages a national disaster, warning that prolonged outages are severely affecting communities and essential services.
The appeal follows a wave of protests in several areas, where residents have been left without running water for weeks, forcing many to rely on tankers and unsafe alternatives.
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina addressed the media in Midrand on Thursday, confirming that supply has been restored in some affected areas. However, the commission says the broader crisis remains far from resolved.
According to the SAHRC, the scale and persistence of the disruptions require a coordinated national response involving multiple departments and spheres of government.
“The situation has reached a level where a broad, integrated and urgent intervention is necessary,” the commission said, adding that the lack of reliable water threatens fundamental human rights.
The body raised particular concern about the impact on schools, noting that learners are missing classes because of inadequate sanitation and hygiene facilities, which in turn affects academic performance.
Healthcare facilities are also under strain. The commission warned that water shortages in hospitals and clinics undermine the right to healthcare and compromise patient safety.
While advocating for a national state of disaster to unlock resources and fast-track interventions, the SAHRC cautioned that such a declaration must be accompanied by strict safeguards.
It warned that emergency measures should not become a “breeding ground” for corruption or misuse of funds, calling for strong oversight and accountability mechanisms to ensure public money is spent responsibly.
As frustration grows across affected communities, the commission says decisive leadership and transparent management will be key to preventing the crisis from deepening further because when the taps run dry, the consequences flow far beyond inconvenience.