Department of Water and Sanitation Q1 and 2 2025/26 Performance; with Minister and Deputy Minister

Video The Portfolio Committee convened to receive a briefing from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on its performance for the first and second quarters of the 2025/26 financial year. The Minister and senior departmental leadership highlighted ongoing reforms in the sector, including the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency and the introduction of the Water Services Amendment Bill, which would strengthen regulatory oversight and enable intervention where municipalities failed to meet performance standards. Progress was also reported with regard to national norms and standards for water service delivery, which now required household-level water access, and explicitly phased out bucket sanitation systems. However, the Committee noted several persistent challenges. Municipal debt to water boards and the Water Trading Entity remained high, limiting the financial sustainability of the sector. Some municipalities continued to make only partial repayments or remained non-compliant, leading to withheld equitable share allocations in certain cases. Also, infrastructure rollout in key dam and bulk water projects had been slowed by contractor cash flow issues, environmental approval delays, and the loss of technical specialists, particularly approved professional persons required for dam safety compliance. Members also raised concerns about governance issues within certain water boards, including allegations of procurement irregularities. The Minister confirmed that independent investigations were underway, and committed to reporting back to the Committee upon completion. While welcoming improvements in procurement participation by small and historically disadvantaged enterprises, the Committee emphasised the need for stronger monitoring systems, clearer consequence management, and improved coordination across the DWS, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and National Treasury, to support municipalities and ensure sustainable water and sanitation delivery.