South Africa requires at least R400 billion to reverse the maintenance backlog crippling its water and sanitation infrastructure, yet only R26 billion has been budgeted for these services in the 2025/26 financial year, according to Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. Departmental assessments showed that 73% of municipalities’ water systems are in a ‘poor’ or ‘critical’ state, with nearly half of all municipal water lost due to leaks and billing failures.

Scale Of Infrastructure Breakdown

According to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s latest Green and Blue Drop reports, most of South Africa’s water authorities are facing severe service failures. As of 2023, 73% received the lowest ratings, underscoring perilous risks to both household access and broader public health. The crisis is aggravated by 47% of municipal water being categorised as ‘non-revenue water’, reflecting losses from leaks, illegal connections, faulty meters, and widespread billing problems.

Minister Majodina told Parliament in December 2025 that “we must be honest about the scale of the challenges and the funding required. At the local government level, at least R400 billion is needed to repair and upgrade water infrastructure. Clearly, that amount is not currently available in the fiscus.” She added that the primary cause was the failure of municipalities to prioritise operations and maintenance budgets, leading to deteriorating infrastructure and unreliable water supply.

Government Budget And Response Measures

The national budget for water and sanitation in 2025/26 stands at R26 billion, a fraction of what is needed to address the crisis. The Department of Water and Sanitation confirmed that over the past five years, approximately R30 billion had been channelled to 105 municipalities identified as the worst-performing, yet core systemic problems remain unresolved.

To supplement limited public funds, government is increasingly looking to involve the private sector in infrastructure upgrades and ongoing maintenance programmes. The department stated in April 2026 that immediate stabilisation efforts are being focussed on rural and historically underserved areas where water quality and supply is most precarious. With demand rising and existing networks aging, experts warn that more robust commitments will be necessary to avert a deeper crisis.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is expected to publish further details on the rollout of emergency measures and multi-year investment plans later this year.