Parliamentary Water Caucus; Water Services Amendment Bill

Video The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation convened a meeting to consider the potential establishment of a parliamentary Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Caucus and to learn from international experiences in strengthening parliamentary leadership in the sector. The session began with remarks emphasising that water and sanitation remained critical to national concerns affecting public health, dignity, economic development, and social stability. It was highlighted that Parliament had an important role in ensuring effective oversight, leadership, and accountability to improve service delivery. The meeting was therefore intended to provide Members with an opportunity to reflect on the current state of water and sanitation in South Africa and to explore whether a dedicated parliamentary caucus could enhance coordination and focus on WASH-related issues. During the introductory session, representatives from international parliamentary bodies and civil society organisations outlined their involvement in water governance and WASH advocacy. It was explained that parliamentary WASH caucuses in several countries functioned as voluntary, non-partisan platforms through which legislators collaborated with civil society, development partners and technical experts to strengthen oversight, influence legislation and advocate for increased sector funding. These structures were described as complementary to formal parliamentary committees, providing a flexible space for Members of Parliament to engage with stakeholders, promote policy reforms and amplify the voices of communities affected by water and sanitation challenges. A presentation was then delivered on the global and national state of water, sanitation and hygiene within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure universal access to water and sanitation by 2030. It was reported that although global access to basic services had improved in recent years, billions of people worldwide still lacked safely managed drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Within the South African context, the presentation indicated that access to improved services had expanded over the past two decades; however, significant inequalities remained across provinces and between metropolitan and rural areas. Persistent challenges such as unreliable water supply, uneven sanitation improvements and gaps in hygiene practices were highlighted, and it was noted that South Africa remained off track to meet the SDG 6 targets by 2030 without accelerated investment, stronger governance and improved infrastructure resilience. Representatives from Zambia, Uganda and Liberia shared their experiences in establishing parliamentary WASH caucuses. It was reported that these structures had been created to strengthen advocacy, improve legislative oversight, and mobilise greater political attention to water and sanitation issues. The experiences presented illustrated how caucuses had enabled Members of Parliament to influence budget allocations, sponsor legislation, conduct oversight and work collaboratively with civil society organisations and development partners. It was also noted that, in several cases, caucuses had contributed to increased national budget allocations for the sector and strengthened partnerships aimed at improving service delivery. The role of civil society organisations in supporting parliamentary WASH caucuses was also discussed. It was explained that civil society groups often provided technical expertise, research support and coordination assistance to Members of Parliament, while also ensuring that the perspectives of communities and vulnerable groups were reflected in policy discussions. At the same time, it was emphasised that clear boundaries were necessary, with political leadership remaining the responsibility of parliamentarians while civil society organisations served primarily as knowledge brokers and facilitators of stakeholder engagement. During the discussion session, Members expressed appreciation for the presentations and noted the value of learning from international experiences. Questions were raised regarding lessons learned in establishing caucuses, the relationship between a caucus and existing parliamentary committees, funding arrangements and mechanisms to ensure balanced representation of rural and urban communities. Responses indicated that caucuses generally complemented rather than duplicated the work of formal committees and were typically supported through modest administrative arrangements, parliamentary staff assistance or limited donor support. It was further emphasised that informal relationship-building among Members of Parliament and stakeholders was often crucial during the early stages of establishing such structures. Members also discussed governance considerations, including the need to safeguard parliamentary processes and prevent potential misuse of caucus platforms. It was explained that these risks could be mitigated through clear constitutions, well-defined terms of reference, and diverse membership structures. The discussion further highlighted that parliamentary caucuses could function effectively as multi-party platforms, similar to other caucuses already operating within Parliament, provided that transparency and accountability were maintained. In closing remarks, participants emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary engagement in the WASH sector to accelerate progress towards global and national water and sanitation goals. It was observed that many countries were still behind in achieving universal access to WASH services and that parliamentary caucuses could play a significant role in advocating for stronger oversight, improved policy implementation and increased domestic investment. Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to exchange experiences and indicated support for continued collaboration and dialogue on the matter. The meeting concluded with an indication that further engagement would follow. It was noted that a report outlining the outcomes of the discussion and possible next steps would be prepared and shared with parliamentary leadership for consideration. The aim would be to determine whether the establishment of a Parliamentary WASH Caucus could strengthen Parliament’s role in addressing water and sanitation challenges in South Africa. Following the departure of external participants, the Committee briefly discussed an internal procedural matter relating to the Water Services Amendment Act. It was reported that the Committee had received correspondence from the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) indicating that it had not been consulted during the legislative process and requesting that the matter be postponed for three months. Members were informed that legal advice had been requested to clarify whether consultation with NEDLAC was required in this instance and to determine the potential implications for the legislative process. It was agreed that the Committee would await the legal opinions from both the State Attorneys and Parliament’s legal services before deciding on the appropriate course of action. Once the advice had been received, a special meeting would be convened to consider the matter and determine the way forward.