SAHRC flags R777m tanker bill amid Gauteng water crisis
The South African Human Rights Commission found infrastructure failure, not water shortage, causes Gauteng's water problems.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has raised concerns over millions spent on water tankers in Gauteng while residents face prolonged outages. SAHRC commissioner Dr Henk Boshoff stated on Monday, November 2, that water tankering has become a form of corruption and financial mismanagement.
The City of Tshwane spent R777 million on water tankers in the 2024/25 financial year, an increase from R47 million in 2021/22, according to the commission. Boshoff questioned this expenditure, suggesting the funds could have upgraded infrastructure, noting emergency water deliveries have become a regular municipal service.
The SAHRC inquiry, conducted from May 19-21, identified ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance, water losses, inadequate storage, and electricity interruptions as key contributors to Gauteng's water crisis. The commission made eight recommendations, including repairing wastewater plants and improving reservoir capacity, and will monitor their implementation.
Why it mattersGauteng residents are affected by prolonged water outages due to failing infrastructure and mismanagement of funds meant for repairs.