This warning comes into sharp focus following the release of the 2025 Green Drop Report by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina on 31 March 2026. While the report reflects some improvement, it paints an increasingly worrying picture of the country’s wastewater systems, and raises urgent concerns about the knock-on effects for food security READ ALSO Teacher praised new History CAPS changes as a major shift towards African-centred education What does the report say? The Green Drop Report looks at how well South Africa manages its wastewater systems.
On paper, there has been improvement. The country’s No Drop Risk Ratio (NDRr) increased to 64.0%, up from 36.2% in 2023. This places South Africa in a “medium risk” category. According to the report, about 32% of Water Services Authorities (WSAs) are still in a critical condition and need urgent intervention. At the same time, 47.3% of treated water is lost or not paid for. Much of this is due to leaks from old and poorly maintained infrastructure
South Africa is already using more water than it has. Current demand is 13% higher than available supply, meaning the country is operating at 113% of its water capacity. READ ALSO Three-legged pot causes kidney illnesses: government Even more concerning is that only 27% of municipalities fully understand how much water they actually have available. Because of this strain, water systems are under pressure most of the time. Many households experience water shortages for an average of 58 days a year. This stop-and-start supply damages infrastructure even further and makes the system less reliable. Attempts to fix the problem have not worked as planned.
Municipalities spent R1.9 billion on water-saving projects in 2023/2024, yet water losses still increased significantly. Why this matters for food security Sustainability specialist Kushmika Singh warns that when water systems fail, food systems are among the first to feel the impact. She explains that unreliable water supply affects irrigation, lowers crop yields, and disrupts livestock production. This leads to higher food prices, reduced local supply, and increased dependence on imports. In simple terms: when water becomes scarce, food becomes scarce too. The link between water and food is simple but critical. Globally, agriculture uses about 72% of available freshwater. When water systems fail, farms cannot function properly. Crops do not grow as they should, and livestock suffers.
With a growing population and rising demand, the country could face a serious water shortage by 2030 if nothing changes. This would mean: Less food is produced locally Higher food prices Greater reliance on imports Increased risk during global supply disruptions International organisations, including UN-Water, have shown that when water systems break down, hunger and poverty often follow. Poor water quality also leads to diseases, which make it harder for people, especially children, to absorb nutrients. Some progress, but major challenges remain Despite the overall concerns, the report does highlight that some municipalities are doing well. A few wastewater systems achieved Green Drop Certification, showing that good management and investment can make a difference. Minister Majodina said the government will continue to support municipalities and invest in infrastructure.
A water solution for drought‑prone South Africa: we designed systems to replenish aquifers simply and cheaply in five townsThe 2026 National Budget also emphasises the importance of improving water systems. However, experts say infrastructure alone is not enough. What needs to happen next To avoid a deeper crisis, South Africa needs to act quickly. This includes: Fixing and maintaining existing infrastructure Protecting natural water sources like rivers and wetlands Improving management and accountability Investing in skilled workers Using water more efficiently
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina released the 2025 Green Drop Report on 31 March 2026. Image: Luba Lesolle/ Getty Images Source: Getty Images SA faces a mounting water crisis Briefly News previously reported that South Africa faces a mounting water crisis that experts warn could have devastating long-term consequences if left unaddressed. According to experts, South Africa, already classified as water-scarce, is grappling with worsening shortages as rainfall patterns become increasingly erratic. The near “Day Zero” crisis in Cape Town offered a stark preview of what could unfold elsewhere, with similar risks now emerging nationwide due to ageing infrastructure, poor municipal management, and rising demand.
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South Africa is a naturally dry country with limited water. However, the current water crisis is not mainly caused by low rainfall. It is mostly the result of poor management and long-term neglect.The Big Problems Huge water losses: Nearly half (about 47%) of all treated water is lost before it reaches people's homes. This happens because of leaking pipes, theft, illegal connections, and bad metering. In some provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, losses are as high as 60%. This is much worse than in most other countries.
Wastewater treatment in crisis: Almost half (47%) of the country's 848 municipal wastewater plants are in a critical state — this is up from 39% in 2022. Only 8% are working well. Many of these failing plants release untreated or poorly treated sewage straight into rivers, causing serious pollution and health risks.
Very little maintenance: Most municipalities spend far less than the recommended 8% of their budget on fixing and maintaining water systems — often just 2% or less. This leads to frequent pipe bursts, broken reservoirs, and water shortages.
Taps run dry even when dams are full: In places like Johannesburg, Durban (eThekwini), Knysna, and many smaller towns, people often go days or weeks without water, even though dam levels across much of the country are quite high (many provinces at 94–101% in early April 2026).
Why This Is Happening The main causes are years of neglect, poor planning, lack of skilled workers (partly due to political appointments instead of qualified people), weak collection of water bills, and corruption. These problems have built up over decades under ANC-led national and local governments, which have run most municipalities and the national water department since 1994.Old infrastructure from earlier times has not been properly repaired or replaced. Billions of rands meant for water projects have been lost to waste, delays, and mismanagement. While rivers also face pollution and other issues, the biggest damage comes from broken treatment plants and leaking pipes.Government Response
In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa called water a national crisis. He announced over R150 billion in planned investments and the creation of a National Water Crisis Committee (which he will chair). Critics say this response is very late — the problems have been warned about for 15 to 20 years or more — and there has been little real accountability so far.Opposition parties and many residents believe the crisis is largely man-made, caused by bad governance, rather than just nature.What Needs to Be Done
To fix this, South Africa must:
Strictly use water revenue only for maintenance and upgrades (no diverting the money elsewhere).
Bring in skilled technical teams instead of political appointments.
Aggressively reduce water losses and leaks.
Speed up repairs and new projects while protecting what still works.
Without real accountability and competent day-to-day management at the local level, even large amounts of new money will not solve the problem — as seen with many past promises.The frustration felt by millions of South Africans who face dry taps, dirty water, and health risks is completely understandable. South Africa has the natural resources, engineers, and knowledge to manage water much better. What has been missing for too long is consistent, honest, and capable execution.Would you like a shorter version, or more details on a specific area like Johannesburg or wastewater pollution?- Incompetent government and Minister.
