Boksburg – President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that South Africa’s water crisis has reached alarming levels, with nearly all municipalities affected.
According to SABC News, Ramaphosa made the remarks during a meeting of the Presidential Co-ordinating Council in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, on Thursday.
Addressing leaders, the president stressed the urgency of the situation, saying water and sanitation challenges have become among the most pressing issues facing local government.
“One of the most immediate challenges that affects almost every municipality is the crisis in the provision of water and sanitation,” he said.
Major reforms in the water sector are already well underway, having been part of the work of Operation Vulindlela since 2020.
https://t.co/aw1pdAgFuM— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) April 30, 2026
Ramaphosa said that the matter has been prioritised on the council’s agenda to ensure both the causes and solutions are fully addressed.
“That’s why we have dedicated a significant portion of the agenda of this meeting to address this challenge… we will be addressing it from a diagnostic point of view and a solution point of view, as well as how best that all should be financed,” he said.
Among the municipalities grappling with water supply issues is Johannesburg.
In response, infrastructure efforts are under way to improve access, including the recent launch of the R250-million Brixton Reservoir and Water Tower project.
As reported by The Citizen, the project is expected to enhance water supply to thousands of residents, as well as hospitals and institutions in the city’s western suburbs.
The development comes as government faces increasing pressure to implement sustainable solutions to stabilise water provision nationwide.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
