Category: South Africa Government

Namibian President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on African leaders to re-energise efforts to improve access to clean water and safe sanitation, saying that delayed investment has left millions vulnerable to climate shocks, poor health, and economic stagnation.

Addressing the African Union Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) Summit on Sunday, President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the gathering was taking place at a critical moment under the African Union (AU) theme of the year: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”.

“This Water Summit is being convened at the right time,” she said, stressing that water security must now be treated as a strategic development priority rather than an assumed natural endowment.

For decades, she noted, many African countries, particularly those endowed with perennial rivers, regarded water availability as guaranteed.

“Most countries in Africa took it for granted that access to water was as easy as walking to the river to fetch it. As such, allocating adequate funds to proper water infrastructure was not considered a top priority.

“However, the accelerating impacts of climate change have forced governments to confront a new reality. Climate change opened our eyes. What we considered permanent sources of water have been drying up,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

She acknowledged that investments in water and sanitation across the continent have been delayed and insufficient but urged leaders to adopt a forward-looking approach.

“Let us consider our delayed and limited investments in terms of ‘better late than never.’ Our gathering here today must re-energise our efforts to work towards improving access to clean water and sanitation.”

She highlighted that Namibia has played an active role in advancing the continental water investment agenda. In 2023, the country co-chaired the AU-Africa Water Investment Programme International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa. The panel supported the publication of two key documents, namely the Africa’s Rising Investment Tide and the Africa Water Investment Action Plan.

According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, these documents provide practical guidance for AU Member States, development partners, and the private sector on how to mobilise an additional US$30 billion per year by 2030 to fund climate-resilient water infrastructure and sustainable sanitation systems.

“Commitments should be made and resources mobilised with the aim of closing the water investment gap,” she said, adding that implementation of both the AIP High-Level Panel Investment Action Plan and the UN 2023 Water Action Agenda in Africa must be accelerated.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also highlighted the broader security implications of water scarcity and inadequate sanitation, cautioning that shortages can fuel migration, displacement and even cross-border tensions.

“Water scarcity and sanitation pressures can lead to migration and displacement, which could trigger internal and cross-border conflicts,” she warned.

Targeted and results-driven investments are required to ensure sustainable water sources and prevent such conflicts, she added.

Sanitation ensures dignity

Beyond economic and security considerations, Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed the human dignity dimension of sanitation.

She said sanitation ensures dignity, good health, and a better life.

“The continent still lacks basic sanitation in many communities, a situation long neglected. Now that we have identified it as a priority, investments in sanitation programmes and projects are highly recommended.”

Nandi-Ndaitwah also urged leaders to prioritise community-centred service delivery, noting that improved sanitation is essential for public health and social well-being.

She noted Namibia’s own policy framework as an example of national commitment. Guided by Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), Namibia adopted a National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy that promotes sustainable access to safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene through integrated planning, community participation and clear national targets for 2030.

The policy also emphasises environmental sustainability and efficient use of water resources.
“These are the types of policies that African countries and development partners should invest in and seek funding for,” she said.

She said Namibia is honoured to host the Global Water Fund as it relocates its headquarters to Windhoek.

“This reflects growing confidence in our commitment to sustainable water management and regional cooperation,” she said, adding that the move will contribute meaningfully to advancing water security and safe sanitation for all in Africa.

She further voiced optimism that renewed political will and collective commitment would translate into tangible progress.

“It is my hope that with our commitments and renewed drive for action, we will raise the required funds to ensure Africa’s water security and sanitation for all are achieved,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has called on African leaders and partners to move decisively from pledges to implementation, warning that commitments alone will not deliver the water infrastructure the continent urgently needs.

Delivering closing remarks at the High-Level Side Event on Water Investment in Africa on the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Kikwete commended the African Union Commission, the Government of South Africa and development partners for convening what he described as a critical follow-up to the AU–Africa Water Investment Summit held in Cape Town alongside the G20 Summit last year.

Kikwete addressed the gathering in his capacity as the Alternate Co-Chair of the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, Chair of the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), and Chair of the Africa Coordination Unit, which serves as the Secretariat of the Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP).

“In these roles, I have witnessed firsthand the steady transformation from political vision to structured investment architecture,” he said.

He described the Cape Town Africa Water Investment Summit as a historic milestone, noting that between USD 10 billion and USD 12 billion in annual commitments had been pledged to support water development across the continent.

More than 80 projects from 38 countries were showcased, demonstrating what he called Africa’s shift from general aspirations to credible, investment-ready pipelines.

“Africa is no longer speaking in generalities. We are presenting credible, investment-ready pipelines,” Kikwete said.

However, he warned that the true test lies ahead. “Pledges alone do not deliver infrastructure nor water. What matters now is disciplined follow-through.” 

Kikwete welcomed progress reports presented during the session on investment pipelines and institutional systems designed to ensure delivery. He singled out the AIP–PIDA [Africa Water Investment Programme – Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa] Water Investment Scorecard as one of the most significant new accountability instruments.

Developed with strong technical support from the Global Water Partnership Organisation and other partners, the scorecard enables AU Member States to track progress, identify bottlenecks and strengthen governance in water investments.

He congratulated the African Union Commission for launching the first Scorecard Report.

“This is not merely a publication; it is a governance instrument. It signals that Africa is serious about measuring, tracking, and accelerating water investments with transparency and discipline,” Kikwete said.

Kikwete also extended congratulations to Namibia on concluding a Headquarters Agreement to host the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) in Windhoek, marking the relocation of its primary seat from Stockholm, Sweden.

“This is not simply an institutional arrangement. Hosting the GWPO in Namibia, in strategic collaboration with the Global Water Investment Platform, represents a unique opportunity for Africa and the Global South to lead.”

He commended Namibia’s leadership for positioning Africa at the centre of global water governance.
Outlining the Africa Water Investment Programme architecture, Kikwete said the AIP provides an integrated framework for project origination and technical preparation anchored on African soil, investment structuring and financial mobilisation through the Global Water Investment Platform, and high-level advocacy via the G20 Presidential Legacy, particularly the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments.

“This model positions Africa not as a recipient of fragmented financing, but as a co-architect of a new global water investment system,” he said.

Kikwete emphasised that Africa now has political leadership, a defined pipeline of programmes and an institutional architecture rooted on the continent.

“What we must now accelerate is financial closure and implementation,” he said.

As the High-Level Panel, Kikwete pledged continued engagement at the highest political level to sustain momentum. As the AIP Secretariat, he said GWPSA would intensify technical support, project preparation, and blended finance structuring.

Kikwete called on Ministers from the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and development partners to ensure commitments translate into bankable projects and tangible impact.

“The measure of our success will not be in the number of declarations adopted, but in the number of communities gaining access to safe water and sanitation, the socio-economic sectors receiving the water they need to thrive, and the resilience we build against climate shocks,” Kikwete said.

He concluded with a call for urgency and unity. “Let this AU Summit year on water and sanitation be remembered as the year Africa moved decisively from commitment to capital, and from capital to construction.” – SAnews.gov.za

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Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has moved to assure that government is at work to resolve the water crisis currently experienced in parts of the country.

Ntshavheni was speaking during the Debate of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) held in Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon.

The water challenges reached a crescendo last week when residents in Johannesburg protested, with some maintaining to have been without water for at least three weeks.

“The work has already commenced. The OV [Operation Vulindlela] team and the Department of Water and Sanitation have started with the assessments towards a water action plan that should be ready by mid-March 2026, and a call for technical capacity as part of mobilising resources and expertise to support municipalities in crisis is in the works.

“The current draft Water Action Plan is focused on immediate crisis, propelling reforms in the water sector and unlocking investments in the municipal infrastructure,” Minister Ntshavheni assured.

During the SONA last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the National Water Crisis Committee to resolve the challenges faced by citizens in a similar vein to the success of the National Energy Crisis Committee.

“This structure will bring together all existing efforts into a single coordinating body.  It will deploy technical experts and resources from the national government to municipalities facing water challenges. It will ensure that action is taken swiftly and effectively to address the problem. 

“To address the challenges effectively, we will not hesitate to use the powers enshrined in the Constitution and in the Water Services Act to intervene in municipalities where necessary.

“We will hold to account those who neglect their responsibility to supply water to our people,” President Ramaphosa said at the time. – SAnews.gov.za

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Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina says ageing infrastructure, leaks and poor governance are undermining the reliable supply of water. 

Speaking to media on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Majodina reiterated that the country’s major dams hold sufficient water, but systemic weaknesses in municipal infrastructure are placing water security at risk.

“…As we pump the water, the infrastructure has decayed. The water is leaking and treated water, which is supposed to reach households, is running down the streets,” Majodina said.

The Minister’s remarks come amid ongoing water supply challenges in Johannesburg, where residents have experienced intermittent shortages, low pressure and disruptions linked to a system strain.

Majodina explained that her department’s constitutional mandate is primarily focused on bulk water resource development, including building dams, tunnels and canals, while municipalities are responsible for reticulation and distribution.

However, national government has stepped in to support local interventions, where possible.

She said working with Rand Water, government has invested in major bulk infrastructure, including upgrades to the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Works System, one of the largest facilities in the country.

“That plant has the capacity not only to supply [to] South Africa but even to provide treated water to neighbouring countries,” the Minister said.

The core problem, she stressed, lies in municipal infrastructure that has not kept pace with rapid urban growth.

“When you drive through Johannesburg, you see water flowing in the streets. That is treated water. It is not reaching the taps because pipes are leaking,” Majodina said.

Consumption

The Minister also noted that South Africa’s per capita water consumption far exceeds international norms. While the global benchmark stands at approximately 173 litres per person per day, South Africa’s consumption has been recorded at around 239 litres per person per day.

“That is abnormal. If we continue at that rate, we are going to collapse the system,” she warned.

To stabilise supply in Johannesburg, she said authorities have implemented load shifting between pump stations and introduced “water soft locking”, a measure to reduce water pressure across the system.

“Soft locking does not mean people will not have water. It means we reduce the pressure so that those who are not getting water can receive supply,” Majodina explained.

She said municipalities have been advised to increase reservoir storage capacity and ring-fence water revenue to reinvest in infrastructure maintenance and upgrades.

“We have told municipalities to ring-fence water sales and invest back into water infrastructure. They have not done so. Today, some systems have collapsed because they do not have engineers and scientists,” she said.

Illegal connections and vandalism

Majodina further raised concern about illegal connections, vandalism and so-called “water mafias”, who tamper with infrastructure.

“Our infrastructure is vandalised day in and day out. Illegal connections are contributing to losses and destabilising the system.”

The Minister highlighted the significance of the proposed Water Services Amendment Bill, which seeks to separate the roles of water services authorities and water services providers.

“Currently, in many municipalities, you are both the referee and the player at the same time (sic). There is no oversight. If systems fail, no one is held accountable,” she said.

Majodina said the amendment bill will enable clearer governance distinctions and strengthen national government’s ability to intervene where service delivery collapses, a power currently limited under constitutional provisions that assign water services to local government.

Groundwater development

Looking ahead, she said government will intensify its focus on groundwater development, particularly in underserved communities that have never had access to clean piped water.

“We have not fully tapped into groundwater potential, especially for communities that have never received a drop of clean water,” she said.

While acknowledging that water challenges extend beyond South Africa to the broader continent, Majodina maintained that the country’s immediate priority is fixing infrastructure, strengthening governance, and restoring public confidence.

Meanwhile, Majodina has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent commitment to chair the National Water Crisis Committee, describing it as a crucial step in elevating water reform to the highest level of government. – SAnews.gov.za

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Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has stressed that Africa cannot realise meaningful economic growth without urgent investment in water infrastructure.

“We cannot have Africa developing economically when there is no water,” Majodina said.

Speaking during a media doorstep interview on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held on 14 – 15 February in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Majodina placed water security at the centre of the continent’s development agenda.

The Minister commenced her second day at the summit by hosting, in collaboration with the AU High-Level Panel, a side event titled ‘High-Level Leaders Session on Water Investment’, sponsored by the Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions in South Africa (AWSISA).

The session brought together Ministers, development partners, financiers, and private sector representatives to assess progress made since the inaugural Water Investment Summit held in Cape Town in August 2025.

Majodina said Africa faces a massive backlog in water infrastructure, warning that without decisive action, the continent’s ambitions for industrialisation, job creation and improved living standards will remain out of reach.

“Let us start rolling out the Water Investment Summit to check how far we can go as a continent in mobilising financial resources to fund water infrastructure. The backlog is huge.

“We cannot have Africa developing economically when there is no water. We need socio-economic development. We need to ensure that livelihoods are sustained as expected. But our people are suffering when it comes to water,” Majodina said.

In a pointed call to action, Majodina linked water security to the AU’s broader peace and stability objectives.

“Everyone talks about silencing the guns. Silence the guns and open the taps. That is where we are coming from. Silence the guns, open the taps.”

She urged African governments and the private sector to make firm commitments toward financing water infrastructure, emphasising that public resources alone will not be sufficient to close the funding gap.

“Let each country commit. Let the private sector commit to water infrastructure investment,” she said.

She emphasised that the mining industry must play a more active role in supporting sustainable water systems across the continent. “We have a lot of mines across the continent operating in our countries, but they are not committing enough in terms of funding water infrastructure.” 

Drawing on South Africa’s experience, the Minister cited challenges in the City of Johannesburg, where ageing infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with rapid urbanisation and economic growth.

“When you talk about Johannesburg, you talk about the ‘United Nations of Africa’. Everybody goes there. The economy is growing, the population is growing but the infrastructure can no longer cope,” she said.

The Cape Town Water Investment Summit, held on 15 – 16 August 2025, marked a significant milestone in mobilising funding for the sector. According to Majodina, investors at that summit committed between $10 billion and $12 billion towards water infrastructure development.

In addition, 38 of Africa’s 54 countries submitted bankable project proposals aimed at attracting infrastructure financing.

“We came up with valuable projects from 38 countries… that can be funded. Today, we are here to give a progress report on how far are we in terms of implementing that,” Majodina said.

Stability

The Minister also underscored the link between water and peace, noting that instability across parts of the continent continues to undermine development.

She said water cooperation can serve as a platform for regional integration and shared prosperity, particularly in transboundary river basins.

The Minister further noted the upcoming United Nations Water Conference scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2 – 4 December 2026.

The conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE, aims to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), enhance global water governance, and further elevate water-related issues on the international agenda.

“As leaders, we must move from declarations to implementation. Water must be at the centre of Africa’s development agenda,” Majodina said. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Alexandra Abrahams, says relevant enforcement authorities are investigating alleged non-compliant garment manufacturing operations in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.

Her remarks come after the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) noted with concern media reports alleging non-compliant operations in Newcastle, and the possible presence of goods linked to major retailers within those facilities.

“It is appropriate that these processes be allowed to proceed without interference. The matter raises broader systemic questions about supply-chain accountability, responsible sourcing, and the integrity of South Africa’s clothing and textile value chain.

“It has also served as a reminder that economic growth driven through sustainable industrial development requires lawful conduct and shared responsibility across the entire production and procurement ecosystem,” Abrahams said in a statement on Tuesday.

She emphasised that South Africa cannot grow its manufacturing base on the back of unsafe and illegal operations. 

“Factories that evade labour standards distort competition, undermine compliant businesses, and expose vulnerable workers to unacceptable conditions,” the Deputy Minister said.

“While the dtic is not a frontline enforcement authority for labour, immigration, or occupational health and safety legislation, it has a clear policy interest in ensuring that the domestic manufacturing base is not undermined by illegal or non-compliant operations that distort competition and erode worker protections,” she said.

Abrahams highlighted that the incident underscores that enforcement alone cannot resolve systemic risks in fragmented supply chains. 

“Demand-side actors, particularly large retailers and brand owners, carry a corresponding responsibility to exercise meaningful due diligence in their procurement and supplier management practices. 

“Moreover, there is a need for improved inter-departmental coordination and data visibility across the sector. The department supports closer collaboration with enforcement agencies to ensure that industrial areas do not become havens for informal or illegal manufacturing activity,” the Deputy Minister said.

Abrahams plans to engage the Retail Clothing, Textile, Footwear, and Leather Masterplan Executive Oversight Committee to discuss the implications of the Newcastle matter and to identify practical steps to strengthen supply-chain accountability and cooperative enforcement across the industry. 

The objectives of the Retail Clothing, Textiles, Footwear, and Leather Masterplan are grounded in the principle that industrial growth must occur within a sound governance framework of decent work, lawful business activity, and formalisation of the value chain.

“Strengthening voluntary and policy-linked disclosure mechanisms is just one of the essential mechanisms to improve visibility across supply chains and prevent illicit or exploitative production from entering formal retail channels.

“The dtic remains committed to promoting formalisation and compliance across the value chain and creating an enabling environment for a competitive, inclusive, and labour-absorbing clothing and textile industry. 

“This requires collaboration between government, retailers, manufacturers, labour, and regulators to promote formalisation and compliance across the value chain,” Abrahams said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Government has welcomed the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2025 results, which indicate an improvement in key labour market indicators. 

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), employment increased by 44 000 in the fourth quarter of 2025, while the number of unemployed persons decreased by 172 000. 

As a result, the official unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percent.

“The improvement in employment reflects the resilience of the South African economy and the impact of targeted interventions aimed at stimulating growth, supporting businesses, and expanding labour market opportunities.

“Government has intensified actions to grow employment through accelerated infrastructure investment to unlock opportunities across key sectors of the economy,” Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Tuesday.

The implementation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus continues to provide work opportunities, particularly for young people and women.

“Strengthened public-private partnerships are unlocking new investment and supporting industrial expansion to create long-term employment opportunities. 

“Through Operation Vulindlela and ongoing economic reform measures, the government continues to remove structural constraints that limit growth, including energy stability and logistics efficiency. These reforms are laying the foundation for sustained job creation,” GCIS said.

Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery. 

It aims to modernise and transform network industries, including electricity, water, transport, and digital communications.

“South Africa’s progress requires sustained effort. Government calls on all social partners to work together to drive inclusive growth and ensure that more South Africans share in the benefits of economic development,” GCIS said. – SAnews.gov.za

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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with traditional leadership, with 288 Amakhosi being officially designated as Commissioners of Oaths.

Speaking at the Archie Gumede Conference Centre in Mayville, west of Durban, on Monday, Ntuli said the move recognises the critical role played by traditional leaders in advancing community development, promoting social cohesion and improving access to services, particularly in rural areas.

The new designation grants traditional leaders with statutory authority to administer oaths and affirmations, certify documents and assist communities with accessing legal processes.

Ntuli emphasised that strengthening partnerships between government, law enforcement agencies and traditional leadership structures is essential in addressing socio-economic challenges facing the province, particularly in rural communities.

“Empowering Amakhosi in this capacity will improve access to legal services, enhance community trust in the justice system, and facilitate more efficient interaction between communities and public institutions,” the Premier said.

The initiative forms part of broader provincial efforts to deepen rural development, promote inclusive governance and ensure that justice services are accessible even in remote communities.

By positioning Amakhosi as intermediaries between communities and State institutions, he said the provincial government aims to bridge service delivery gaps and strengthen local governance structures.

Ntuli also noted that traditional leaders remain essential partners in maintaining stability, upholding customary law, and advancing development initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods across KwaZulu-Natal.

He added that the collaboration is expected to enhance social cohesion, reinforce lawful conduct and support integrated community safety strategies.

The provincial government reiterated its commitment to working closely with traditional leadership institutions to advance inclusive socio-economic development, improve access to services, and strengthen public confidence in governance and justice systems throughout the province. – SAnews.gov.za

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