Department of Water and Sanitation; TCTA, WRC Annual Performance Plan 2026/27

Video Annual Performance Plans (APPs) of Government Departments and Entities The Department of Water and Sanitation briefed the Committee on its 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan and medium-term budget, together with presentations by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA). The Minister and Deputy Ministers were present for parts of the meeting. The Department emphasised that South Africa had sufficient raw water in most regions, but that the national water crisis stemmed primarily from failing municipal water and sanitation systems, declining infrastructure reliability, weak governance, and poor financial management. Members raised serious concerns about declining water reliability, severe non-compliance of wastewater treatment systems highlighted in the Green Drop findings, and the continued funding of failing municipalities. Strong objections were raised by uMkhonto weSizwe party to the adoption of the report, arguing that it did not adequately reflect the severity and urgency of the crisis or propose sufficiently decisive interventions. The Department defended its approach, citing constitutional and legislative constraints, ongoing institutional reforms, conversion of grants from direct to indirect transfers, and increased reliance on water boards and implementing agents. The Committee discussed the effectiveness of the monitoring and evaluation of the National Water Resource Strategy, municipal debt to water boards, particularly the Matjhabeng case, and the need for consequence management following Green Drop findings. Members also questioned budget reductions to bulk infrastructure grants during a water crisis and requested detailed written reports on major infrastructure projects, including Umzimvubu, Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2 and uMkhomazi. The Chairperson directed the Department to submit additional written information within 14 days on specified projects, consequence management actions, and Green Drop interventions, and supported a proposal for a dedicated future meeting on the Green Drop report.