Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says municipalities will retain full authority over water services despite the creation of a new national body aimed at tackling South Africa’s deepening water crisis.
Speaking after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the formation of a National Water Crisis Committee during his State of the Nation Address, Hlabisa stressed that the structure would provide support rather than replace local government functions.
Ramaphosa unveiled the committee as part of urgent measures to stabilise water supply systems across the country, where ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance and growing demand have left many communities facing recurring outages.
Hlabisa described the situation as a national emergency requiring coordinated intervention and additional expertise.
“Municipalities will remain the authorities. This does not affect the daily operations of the Department of Water and Sanitation,” he said.
He noted that the department on its own cannot manage the extensive maintenance backlog, making a dedicated support structure essential.
The committee is expected to assist struggling metros with technical skills, planning and resources. Government has earmarked R55 billion for infrastructure upgrades, maintenance and emergency responses, while a further R156 billion in public funding has been allocated over the next three years to strengthen water and sanitation systems nationwide.
Officials say the goal is not to centralise control, but to reinforce local capacity effectively giving municipalities backup rather than a takeover as the country works to keep taps running.