South Africa’s failing water infrastructure and the worsening plight of the vulnerable

As South Africa continues to battle through the impacts of climate change, water scarcity has transcended environmental concerns to become an issue of human rights. Far from being simply about resource distribution, the problem is rooted in our decaying water infrastructure, which has placed South Africa’s most vulnerable communities at an even greater disadvantage. 

At a time when equitable access to water is more critical than ever, we are witnessing a crisis of thirst. Unless we act decisively to address these failures, the societal and economic repercussions will only continue to worsen.

The mismanagement of South Africa’s water resources is evident from both local anecdotes and national data. Many communities, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, have limited or no access to reliable water services. 

When taps do flow, the water is often brown or foul-smelling, exposing people to health risks. These conditions aren’t confined to remote areas alone: even some urban regions suffer from regular water interruptions and contamination issues. While water shortages are partly influenced by South Africa’s geography, which predisposes it to drought, they are more directly the product of a poorly maintained and overburdened infrastructure.

South Africa’s water infrastructure is in a state of disrepair. A total of 577 (of 958) water supply systems are in the low-risk category with 184 in the medium-risk category, 102 in the high-risk category, and 95 in the critical-risk category. A staggering amount of water – estimated at more than 40% of the total supply – is lost to leaks and inefficiencies each year. These figures are not just statistics; they are indicators of wasted resources, mismanaged funds and missed opportunities. Infrastructure failures mean that even when water is available, it often doesn’t reach the people who need it most. 

For already underserved and marginalised populations, these failures are acutely felt. Poorer communities, which often have limited political influence, tend to be the last in line for repairs and infrastructure improvements. In townships and informal settlements, residents are frequently left with few alternatives, relying on unsafe sources or paying exorbitant prices to private water vendors. This disproportionate impact on the vulnerable makes water scarcity not just an issue of resources but one of inequality and justice.

Read more on the water crisis here. 

The human impact of this crisis is profound. In places like Limpopo, Free State, the Eastern Cape and parts of Gauteng, women and children are walking kilometers each day to collect water from rivers and stagnant ponds. This time could be spent in school, at work or taking care of families. The increased workload and exposure to unsafe water sources pose health risks, not only from physical strain but also from waterborne diseases. It’s a bitter irony that the poorest communities, which contribute the least to water wastage, suffer the most from its scarcity.

The economic repercussions of failing water infrastructure extend beyond individual households. South Africa’s agriculture, mining, and manufacturing industries – all water-intensive sectors – are facing reduced productivity owing to unreliable water access. For farmers, this has meant failed crops and lost livelihoods; for urban workers, it could mean shorter working hours or even job losses. The indirect costs are staggering, and the resulting economic strain is disproportionately borne by communities that already have limited financial resilience. The cycle of poverty perpetuates as the lack of clean, reliable water stalls economic mobility.

Several factors are driving South Africa’s water crisis, but corruption, mismanagement and a lack of investment in infrastructure are primary culprits. A Department of Water and Sanitation report from 2021 identified widespread corruption in the water sector, involving high-level officials, local water boards and private companies. The funds intended for infrastructure upgrades are instead being siphoned off by corruption, leaving pipes rusting, treatment plants deteriorating and communities parched. Even well-meaning attempts at regulation have often fallen short, as oversight and accountability measures struggle to keep up with the entrenched corruption.

What, then, is the way forward in addressing this crisis of thirst? First, we must establish stronger regulatory frameworks to prevent mismanagement and corruption in water services. Enhanced transparency and oversight mechanisms are essential to ensure that funds earmarked for water infrastructure actually reach their intended projects. 

Second, local governments should prioritise maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure in underserved communities. Too often, funds are disproportionately allocated to wealthier, urban areas, leaving vulnerable populations at risk. A more equitable allocation of resources is not just a moral imperative but also a practical one, as it can mitigate public health crises and reduce the long-term costs of emergency interventions.

It is also imperative to rethink water governance itself. Civil society and communities must be more actively involved in water management to ensure that diverse voices are heard and innovative solutions can be implemented. 

South Africa’s water sector needs to adopt a long-term vision that is not purely reactive but anticipates future needs and challenges. This will require embracing new technologies to monitor, conserve and efficiently distribute water resources. It’s clear that short-term solutions such as water rationing are not sustainable; what we need is a resilient, transparent and inclusive approach to water management.

The water crisis in South Africa is an urgent call for decisive action. Addressing our water infrastructure challenges is not just about fixing pipes; it’s about ensuring that every South African, regardless of income or location, has access to the basic dignity of clean water. A failure to address this crisis will only deepen existing inequalities and plunge more communities into cycles of poverty, disease and desperation.



The opportunity for change is now. By strengthening regulatory frameworks, making strategic investments and prioritising vulnerable communities, we can shift from a reactive crisis mode to a proactive, sustainable model of water management to transform South Africa’s failing water system into one that serves all its people equitably, ensuring that no one has to experience the indignity of a preventable thirst. It has been said, but begs to be said again, water is life. DM

Adelaide Chagopa is a candidate attorney at the CER. She is an aspiring environmental lawyer. Her interest in facilitating access to water for all led her to study further and pursue an LLM in Multidisciplinary Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, where her dissertation tackled quantifying access to water through minimum core obligations.