President Cyril Ramaphosa says government will intervene where municipalities fail to provide reliable water services.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has put failing municipalities on notice, warning that government will step in and take over water services where local authorities are unable or unwilling to provide residents with reliable access to clean drinking water.
In one of his strongest interventions yet on South Africa's worsening water crisis, Ramaphosa said municipalities that continue to mismanage water infrastructure, allow billions of litres to be lost through leaks and fail to deliver basic services could be stripped of operational control and replaced by capable water utilities.
The warning forms part of the National Water Action Plan, a far-reaching programme of reforms and emergency interventions aimed at ending chronic water disruptions that have left households, businesses and entire communities across the country struggling without dependable water supply.
"Our main priority lies in implementation, clear responsibilities and accountability," Ramaphosa said.
