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water and sanitationlatest news & developments
Along with crime, water has become the single most important issue for many South Africans. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Water crisis rivals crime as top concern for South Africans, Ramaphosa says

The government is moving to establish a national water crisis committee, intervene in failing municipalities and hold municipal managers criminally accountable for persistent…

  • Sheree Bega
4 min read
Antimicrobial resistance silent pandemic that already claims more than 1.3 million lives every year. File photo
AMR

Aid cuts, including by UK, undermine progress on fight against superbugs

Antimicrobial resistance threatens global health and economic stability. Urgent investment in surveillance, innovation and stewardship is critical to containment

  • Jose L Balcazar
4 min read
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivers the 2025 Budget. Photo: Jeffrey Abrahams/Gallo Images
2025 BUDGET

Godongwana keeps medium-term infrastructure spending above R1tn to boost ailing economy

The finance minister said the expenditure would be carried out ‘without compromising the fiscal strategy of sustainable public finances’

  • MG Reporter
3 min read
UMP Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Internalisation, Professor Aldo Stroebel and Chief Executive Officer of the WRC, Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, sign the MoU between the two institutions. The witnesses behind them are Dr Stanley Liphadzi (WRC), Dr Salmina Mokgethle (UMP), Dr Bongiwe Mcata (UMP), and Dr Naledi Nthite (UMP).
ARTICLE

WRC and UMP sign water and sanitation MoU

The agreement will help Mpumalanga province find sustainable solutions to its water challenges

  • Sabelo Richard Nkosi
13 min read
Senzo Mchunu. (M&G)
ACCOUNTABILITY

From water to police: Senzo Mchunu’s legacy and Pemmy Majodina’s new job

Mchunu has left big shoes that need to be filled, according to experts

  • Sheree Bega
3 min read
CAPE TOWN

Cape Town’s railway occupiers are being moved but there are snags with water and sanitation supply

Some people occupying the Central Line are now refusing to be moved until service issues are resolved

  • Sandiso Phaliso
3 min read
Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda is expected to deliver the city’s consolidated budget, as well as announce property rates, electricity and water price increases for 2024-25, on Friday. (Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
ASAD GAFAR

eThekwini’s R2 million picnic has ratepayers fuming

The metro plans to spend R8.6 million in total on ‘uplifting’ events, but has refused to make available a breakdown of costs

  • Lyse Comins
4 min read
Umzumbe-based Pumula Beach Hotel
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION

KwaZulu-Natal South Coast water woes devastate tourism

The Federated Hospitality Association of South African has called for urgent national government Intervention

  • Lyse Comins
8 min read
Gauteng residents collecting water from a tanker. File photo
BLUE DROP

SA water quality has deteriorated and could pose a health risk – DWS

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s Blue and Green Drop Reports show that microbiological and chemical compliance are lacking in our drinking water

  • Ozayr Patel
4 min read
Nearly half of South Africa’s drinking water systems are in a poor state. (Getty Images)
CHOLERA
Video

Broken: Eskom, Transnet, Post Office – and so is South Africa’s water

Is the situation in Hammanskraal a sign of what is to come?

  • Ozayr Patel
5 min read
Hammanskraal residents have to go out and find water. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
APIES RIVER

Hammanskraal water crisis exposes years of neglect

Hammanskraal is a place that has been overlooked for decades, especially when it comes to water and sanitation

  • Adelaide R Chagopa
3 min read
Umgeni, the country’s second-largest water board, supplies municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Eastern Cape and has been rocked by allegations of corruption and mismanagement for nearly a decade. Photo; Supplied
ETHEKWINI

KwaZulu-Natal super water board to be constituted from April

Umgeni Water and Mhlathuze Water will be consolidated into a single water entity after lengthy negotiations

  • Paddy Harper
5 min read
(Image: SABC)
AVENTINE GROUP

The R15.3-million Limpopo ‘shack’ tender was earned fraudulently – SIU

The SIU is trying to recover R2.5-million from a housing tender as part of its investigation into corruption during the Covid-19 state of disaster

  • Eunice Masson
2 min read
Pull the other one: It’s likely Cyril Ramaphosa (right), who was Jacob Zuma’s deputy for years, knows plenty about state capture. Photo: Madelene Cronjé
BATHABILE DLAMINI

Shuffles, shocks and surprises

Zuma’s mystery illness has given TV viewers time to watch his successor swap ministers and be astonished about the extent of state capture

  • Paddy Harper
4 min read
Deputy Ambassador of Cuba in South Africa, Rebeca Hernandez and Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation sign a document at the introduction of Cuban engineers who will be working on the country’s water system on April 22, 2021 in Pretoria, South Africa. According to media reports, the 24 Cuban engineers will transfer skills and knowledge on water and sanitation. (Photo by Deaan Vivier/Beeld/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
BBCBE

Collaboration in the engineering sector is vital for achieving South Africa’s national agenda

Improved private sector coordination would go a long way in rising to the problems South Africa faces

  • Chris Campbell
2 min read
Lindiwe Sisulu (2004-09; 2014-18 and 2019-21). (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
AMATOLA WATER

Sisulu to ‘sweep’ clean her corruption-ridden department

Stabilisation committee on track to recover around R10-billion from the department of human settlements, water and sanitation

  • Chris Gilili
4 min read
Spread out: The Housing Development Agency built temporary residential units at the Mamelodi Hostels to reduce density, but there have been complaints of poor quality. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

‘Shack’ agency remains leaderless

Former Mvelaphanda head gets another six months at the helm of the Housing Development Agency

  • Paddy Harper
4 min read
Not a drop to drink: Residents in QwaQwa have not had water in their taps since October. Many have to walk long distances and stand in queues to purchase water from a water truck — if they can afford it. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CORRUPTION

Greed has an insatiable thirst

The water department says even water tankers are not immune to the selfish acts of Covidpreneurs

  • Andile Tshona
4 min read
Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. (David Harrison)
AMATOLA WATER BOARD

Sisulu axes another water board

Umgeni Water’s board in KwaZulu-Natal was appointed irregularly by her predecessor, the water and sanitation minister claims

  • Paddy Harper
2 min read
Uganda has experienced mass power cuts due to flooding.
FLOODS

Flooding cuts power in Uganda

Government threatens forced removals in response

  • Sipho Kings
2 min read