WaterCAN urges Ramaphosa to declare national disaster on water infrastructure

WaterCAN is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster on South Africa’s failing water infrastructure, warning that millions of people are effectively living at "Day Zero".

The advocacy group's appeal comes amid prolonged outages in parts of Johannesburg, where some residents have been without water for more than three weeks.

WaterCAN Executive Manager Dr Ferrial Adam said the country’s water crisis extends far beyond Gauteng.

"It's a national crisis. There are municipalities across South Africa that are struggling, whether it's with either no water, polluted water, or just not doing what they need to do in basic services.

“There are millions of South Africans who don't have access to proper sanitation and water. There are millions of South Africans that are living at day zero every day.

“So please, can you call this a national disaster on infrastructure so that the focus can be there, the political will can be there, and then it erodes the kind of electioneering we're going to see around water."

Adam also criticised what she called a lack of transparency and action from authorities, saying communities deserve clear explanations and faster intervention.

She emphasised that ring-fencing funds for water and sanitation, and prioritising infrastructure repairs, must now move from promise to implementation.

To listen to Dr Ferrial Adam in conversation with 702 and CapeTalk's Africa Melane, click the audio below: