WaterCAN has urged Parliament to use the National Water Amendment Bill to strengthen accountability, transparency and public participation, warning that new legislation will achieve little if South Africa’s longstanding failures of implementation and governance continue.
In its submission on the National Water Amendment Bill [B1–2026], WaterCAN said worsening water shortages, wastewater pollution, deteriorating infrastructure and growing inequality in access to reliable services demonstrate that the country’s water crisis is fundamentally a governance crisis.
WaterCAN Executive Director Dr Ferrial Adam said the organisation supports many of the proposed reforms, including stronger provisions dealing with pollution, offences, liability and the protection of Strategic Water Source Areas.
But she said legislation must be backed by consequences.
“South Africa does not suffer from a shortage of laws, it suffers from a shortage of accountability,” Adam said.
“For years municipalities, industries and public institutions have polluted rivers, allowed wastewater treatment works to collapse, failed to maintain infrastructure and neglected statutory obligations with very few consequences.”
WaterCAN is calling for greater public access to information on drinking water quality, wastewater compliance, pollution incidents, service interruptions, infrastructure spending and enforcement action. It also wants communities and civil society to have a formal role in monitoring water resources and service delivery.
“Communities are not passive consumers of water services. They are essential partners in protecting water resources and strengthening accountability,” Adam said.
She said the amendments must ultimately be judged by whether institutions responsible for water are capable of implementing and enforcing them.
“South Africa’s water crisis is no longer an emerging risk. It is a national emergency.”
“Parliament now has an opportunity to strengthen this legislation so that it not only improves the regulation of water resources, but also restores public confidence, advances water justice and protects the constitutional right of everyone in South Africa to have access to sufficient water.”
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Across South Africa, WaterCAN’s volunteers and citizen scientists are monitoring drinking water and sanitation failures, uncovering risks, and demanding action from those responsible. We challenge polluters, call out government negligence, and stand with communities whose rights to safe water and sanitation are routinely violated. Your support keeps this watchdog work alive and powerful.
For Media Enquiries please contact WaterCAN Communications Manager on Jonathan Erasmus 073 227 6075 or email media@watercan.org.za
