Bright Ntuli
President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is addressing the water challenges across the country, which is why he established the National Water Crisis Committee.
He was speaking during the ANC’s door-to-door campaign in Soweto yesterday.
The committee is working to ensure a coordinated approach to the institutional and financial reforms necessary to achieve water security.
Ramaphosa says the immediate challenge is not mainly a shortage of rain or a lack of dams, but municipal water systems are not being properly managed, maintained and financed.
“Because South Africa is a water scarce country, we always knew that we would need to pay closer and more determined attention to the challenge of water.”
“Now, having setup that water Crisis Committee, a lot of initiatives are underway, both with regard to dealing with bulk water availability as well as the reticulation of water,” said Ramaphosa.
South Africa’s water crisis is a growing national concern involving water shortages, failing municipal infrastructure, ageing pipes, poor maintenance, pollution and inadequate water management.
