The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) issued a press release today calling on the government to declare the ongoing water crisis a national disaster.
The commission says communities across the country are struggling to access water. Water is a basic human right under Section 27 of the Constitution and is essential for healthcare, education and children’s rights.
The SAHRC notes that the lack of water affects schools, hospitals and clinics. Learners are forced to miss school, while hospitals struggle to provide adequate care. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, which also hinders gender equality.
According to the SAHRC, the water crisis is caused by ageing infrastructure, poor planning, insufficient budgets, a lack of skilled staff and vandalism.
These problems are most severe at municipal level, which is responsible for delivering water to households. The commission says the crisis is widespread and not localised. Research from the South African Water Justice Tracker, a partnership between the SAHRC and the University of the Witwatersrand, identifies poor coordination, funding constraints and inadequate infrastructure as key drivers.
The SAHRC recommends declaring the crisis a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act. This would allow emergency funds to be used and improve government coordination.
The commission cautions that such a declaration must not create opportunities for corruption. It also urges government to maintain infrastructure, complete bulk water projects and run campaigns on water conservation.
“Water is a lifeline for millions of South Africans. A national disaster is a reasonable measure to address this ongoing crisis,” the SAHRC said.