Mashatile blames deepening water crisis on Municipal mismanagement, corruption and infrastructure collapse

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has laid responsibility for the country’s worsening water crisis squarely on municipalities, blaming years of poor governance, collapsing infrastructure, corruption and criminality tied to water-tanker operations. His remarks came during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday.

Mashatile told MPs that many local municipalities simply lack the technical, administrative and financial capacity to deliver reliable water and sanitation services. He noted that water-supply reliability nationwide has dropped to just 68%, and that water quality in about 60% of municipal systems is deteriorating — affecting millions of households across the country.

In addition to failing infrastructure and maintenance neglect, he warned that criminal networks have exploited the crisis. Some municipal officials and private tanker-service providers are allegedly colluding to profit from the emergency response: sabotaging infrastructure or allowing it to degrade so that the costly tanker-service contracts become necessary. He described these groups as “water-tanker mafias.”

To tackle the crisis, the government is rolling out a multifaceted plan under the banner of a national Water Task Team. This initiative aims to improve infrastructure, reform troubled institutions, accelerate project-management, and attract private investment through public–private partnerships (PPPs). Mashatile said the move could help restore bulk-water pipelines, improve treatment and supply systems, and relieve pressure on municipalities heavily indebted to water boards.

He also urged communities to play an active role in guarding critical infrastructure and to report suspicious activities. The government hopes that public vigilance, combined with stronger oversight and targeted investment, can disrupt corrupt water-tanker operations and rebuild trust in municipal services.