Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo has stressed the urgent need for research institutions and universities to play a central role in resolving South Africa's mounting water challenges, warning that the crisis extends far beyond resource scarcity.
Speaking at a Water Imbizo convened by the University of South Africa (UNISA), Mahlobo outlined the deeply structural nature of the country's water woes. He pointed to crumbling and outdated infrastructure, poor governance, eroding municipal capacity, widespread pollution and alarmingly high non-revenue water levels — currently sitting at around 47% — as the primary drivers of ongoing shortages.
A crisis of governance and infrastructure
The Deputy Minister made clear that the water emergency confronting the nation cannot be reduced to a simple matter of supply. He argued that failures in oversight, ageing systems and a lack of institutional capability have combined to create a multifaceted challenge requiring a coordinated national response.
"This is not just a resource challenge. It is a governance, infrastructure and capability challenge that demands coordinated action across the entire system," the Deputy Minister said.
Mahlobo framed water security as both a constitutional duty and a cornerstone of the country's development agenda, noting its direct links to public health, food production, industrial expansion and the preservation of human dignity. He cautioned that rising demand, unpredictable climate patterns and persistent inefficiencies threaten to overwhelm already strained water networks unless urgent steps are taken.
The gathering served as a significant national forum, drawing together representatives from government, the academic sector and key industry stakeholders to forge practical, evidence-based strategies for tackling the crisis.
Bridging the gap between knowledge and delivery
Mahlobo placed particular emphasis on the contribution of academia, insisting that the country's response to its water emergency must be anchored in rigorous scientific evidence, innovation and technical know-how.
"Universities and research institutions must be at the centre of our national response. We need solutions that are informed by data, guided by science and capable of being implemented at scale."
He called for a fundamental shift away from research that remains confined to academic papers, arguing that South Africa possesses ample knowledge and innovation but struggles to convert these assets into real-world results on the ground.
"We must close the gap between knowledge and delivery. Scientific capability must find expression in municipal systems, infrastructure operations and the daily management of water services."
Mahlobo further acknowledged that government alone cannot secure the nation's water future. He appealed for a unified, society-wide effort bringing together all tiers of government, academic institutions, the private sector and local communities. The Deputy Minister reaffirmed the administration's pledge to stabilise the water sector through sustained infrastructure investment, stronger municipal performance, enhanced oversight and targeted interventions coordinated under the National Water Crisis Committee, which is chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Africa's water crisis directly threatens households, farmers, and industries already contending with unreliable supply, as nearly half of all treated water is lost before reaching consumers. Crumbling infrastructure and weakened municipal capacity mean that communities face prolonged shortages, businesses encounter higher operating costs, and food production remains vulnerable. Whether the proposed partnership between government, universities, and the private sector can translate research into practical, scalable improvements at municipal level will determine how quickly relief reaches those most affected.
