South Africa’s water crisis is now a top government priority for 2025. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned the South Africa water crisis “poses a similar if not greater threat” than load shedding to lives and the economy. As a result, taps run dry and protests flare in Johannesburg (BusinessTech). The Department of Water and Sanitation has introduced the Water Services Amendment Bill to Parliament and is preparing the National Water Amendment Bill.
What the New Bills Will Change
The Water Services Amendment Bill updates the 1997 Act. It registers people who install and operate water services works and licenses municipal delivery mechanisms. Additionally, it creates a water services licensing authority, tightens governance for water boards, and strengthens inspections, penalties and enforcement.
The forthcoming National Water Amendment Bill aims to sharpen regulation of water resources. This ensures they are managed, protected, used, developed and conserved. It also seeks to promote equity and redress past imbalances. It has been certified as consistent with the Constitution. However, final details still await tabling by Minister Pemmy Majodina.
Why Action is Urgent
Official “Green, Blue and No Drop” reports show a system under strain. Currently, 51% of supplied water has poor to bad microbiological quality. Moreover, 40.8% is lost or unaccounted for, and 67.6% of wastewater plants fail to treat sewage adequately. These failures drive the South Africa water crisis in homes and businesses. They threaten public health and growth.
A Global Cautionary Tale on Growth Near Water
Across the globe, Idaho’s Valley County is grappling with growth at the water’s edge. Proposed rules create a 150-foot riparian buffer around lakes and rivers. They ban residential buildings within 50 feet of shorelines and require stormwater controls and native vegetation. These measures aim to protect Payette Lake and other waterways. McCall’s city leaders back stricter protections and call the county’s broader “multiple-use” system outdated. They warn that weak zoning “could haunt” the lake and residents.
The Takeaway for South Africa
As the South Africa water crisis deepens, stronger licensing, enforcement and resource protection can’t wait. The new Bills target accountability and service delivery. Idaho’s shoreline push underscores the same lesson: plan growth around water, or pay the price later.
