Blog tagged as 2026

One year independent: WaterCAN says South Africa's water future depends on empowered citizens, not promises

One year after becoming independent, WaterCAN says South Africa's worsening water crisis has confirmed that communities cannot wait for government alone to protect their constitutional right to safe water.

Since separating from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) on 9 July 2025, WaterCAN has gr...

15.07.2026 20:03:51

Municipal leaders, not vulnerable communities, must face the consequences for financial failure, says WaterCAN

WaterCAN has warned that National Treasury's decision to temporarily withhold the July 2026 equitable sharetransfers from 69 municipalities risks making vulnerable communities pay the price for years of political and administrative failure.

Download the National Treasury media statement and supporti...

07.07.2026 14:31:16

WaterCAN calls for Lesedi mayor and council to be held accountable for water crisis

WaterCAN is deeply disturbed by confirmed reports that two people have died during water-related protests in Lesedi Local Municipality, where residents have been without water following the municipality’s failure to settle its debt to Rand Water.

This is not an isolated crisis. It reflects a deeper p...

04.07.2026 09:59:00

#WaterActivism - WaterCAN training and #CitizenScience in Action. A Snapshot of 2026 so far.

On this page, we keep a running record of the outreach initiatives we have been involved in.

Sometimes this means attending a simple community meeting, either in person or virtually. On other days, we are teaching learners across the country how to become Water Citizen Scientists, upskilling communit...

14.06.2026 17:14:39

Before the Next Shutdown, Johannesburg Residents Deserve Answers on the Commando System Recovery

As communities across Johannesburg continue to experience water supply disruptions following Rand Water's recent maintenance programme, WaterCAN is calling for a public review of the recovery process and a clear plan ahead of the next scheduled maintenance intervention in July.

While maintenance is a...

06.06.2026 16:35:09

Water anti-corruption forum pushes procurement oversight, ethics pledge for political parties

A high-level anti-corruption forum convened by WaterCAN, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Water Integrity Network (WIN) has called for a significant strengthening of social accountability processes in the water and sanitation sectors, with civil society and business playing a far more ac...

29.05.2026 15:59:48

Gauteng’s water crisis: mismanaged money, broken systems and a human rights failure

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is actively hosting hearings for its investigative inquiry into the Gauteng water crisis. The public inquiry officially runs from May 19 to 21, 2026, to investigate systemic infrastructure failures, intermittent supplies, and their impact on vulnerab...

19.05.2026 16:06:50

WaterCAN opposes hidden water levy increase of 65.6%

Johannesburg residents are being told that water tariffs will increase by an average of 12.5% in the City’s draft 2026/27 budget. But buried deep in the tariff documents is a separate fixed charge - the so-called “water demand management levy” - that is actually going up by a staggering 65.6%.

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08.05.2026 15:45:14

Joburg residents cannot be expected to pay more for a water system weakened by financial collapse

WaterCAN says the City of Johannesburg’s worsening water crisis is no longer only about ageing pipes, broken reservoirs, sewage spills and dry taps, but also about a city that cannot manage its finances responsibly.

The organisation said National Treasury’s intervention this week confirms that Johann...

08.05.2026 06:58:49

WaterCAN: R1bn in returned water grants is a national disgrace while communities live with dry taps and sewage-polluted rivers

WaterCAN is deeply frustrated and alarmed by reports that municipalities have returned R1 billion in unspent Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant funding to National Treasury over the past five years while communities across South Africa continue to endure dry taps, collapsing wastewater systems, sewa...

06.05.2026 11:11:07