Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo has reassured South Africans that the nation will not face a water shortage by 2030. Speaking at the Next Generation Water Efficient Sanitation Technologies Investment Summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Mahlobo emphasised ongoing efforts to expand water infrastructure and mitigate the impact of climate change on water availability.
Mahlobo acknowledged water challenges in some provinces, including Gauteng, but assured the public that plans to build more dams and infrastructure projects are well underway. He stressed the importance of capturing and storing water during periods of sufficient rainfall to ensure resilience against climate change-induced variability.
“As a country, we will not at all run out of water by the year 2030,” Mahlobo said. “We are working hard to ensure that we build more dams and other infrastructure projects to meet future demand.”
While South Africa has sufficient water resources, Mahlobo highlighted that the main issue lies in water reticulation. Municipalities are grappling with ageing infrastructure and poor management, leading to significant water losses.
“We are losing so much water—between 30 and 45 percent of what we have,” he noted. “This is not due to a lack of supply but rather inefficiencies in reticulation systems, which local governments have failed to manage effectively.”
The Water Research Commission (WRC) echoed these concerns, pointing to rapid population growth and the rise of informal settlements as additional stressors on outdated infrastructure.
“Our infrastructure has not been upgraded to cater for the growing population and the rapid development of informal settlements,” said Dr. Jennifer Molwantwa, CEO of the WRC. “The demand for water is huge and continues to grow.”
To combat water wastage, citizens are urged to report leaking pipes and other issues to their local municipalities. Addressing these inefficiencies is crucial in ensuring the sustainability of South Africa’s water supply.
While challenges remain, the government’s focus on infrastructure development and improved water management offers hope. By addressing systemic inefficiencies and planning for future demand, Mahlobo affirmed that South Africa is on track to meet its water needs well beyond 2030.
