Is it working?
No action yet: the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency is yet to be established.
Actions
The bill has been enacted into law.
Are there plans?
To form the water agency, this legislation will incorporate the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), part of the infrastructure branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Trading Entity and all state water assets into this state-owned company.
Is it on the agenda?
Formation of the agency forms part of reforms driven by Operation Vulindlela in the water sector.
Goals
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Act aims to establish a water agency to manage mega water infrastructure projects across the country. The agency will also be accountable for addressing project delays as most of the water infrastructure projects are behind schedule like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Mzimvubu Water Project.
Documents
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector. Also manages several priority programmes including water conservation and demand management, water reuse, wastewater treatment improvement and seawater desalination.
View DetailsIs it working?
The NWRIA is yet to be established. Disestablishment of the TCTA is expected by April 2026.
Actions
• The bill has been enacted into law. • The department tabled another bill in parliament in 2025 that serves to provide for the listing of the NWRIA as a major public entity in Schedule 2 of the Public Finance Management Act, replacing the TCTA. • The department is the aiming the for the board appointment before the end of this calendar year to facilitate the transfer of assets and staff by 1 April 2026.
Are there plans?
To form the water agency, this legislation mandates the incorporation of the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), part of the infrastructure branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Trading Entity and all state water assets into this state-owned company.
Is it on the agenda?
Formation of the agency forms part of reforms driven by Operation Vulindlela in the water sector.
Goals
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Act aims to establish a water agency (NWRIA) to manage mega water infrastructure projects across the country. The agency will also be accountable for addressing project delays as most of the water infrastructure projects are behind schedule like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Mzimvubu Water Project.
Documents
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector. Also manages several priority programmes including water conservation and demand management, water reuse, wastewater treatment improvement and seawater desalination.
View DetailsIs it working?
The NWRIA is yet to be established. Disestablishment of the TCTA is expected by April 2026.
Actions
• The bill has been enacted into law. • The department tabled another bill in parliament in 2025 that serves to provide for the listing of the NWRIA as a major public entity in Schedule 2 of the Public Finance Management Act, replacing the TCTA. • The department is the aiming the for the board appointment before the end of this calendar year to facilitate the transfer of assets and staff by 1 April 2026.
Are there plans?
To form the water agency, this legislation mandates the incorporation of the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), part of the infrastructure branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Trading Entity and all state water assets into this state-owned company.
Is it on the agenda?
Formation of the agency forms part of reforms driven by Operation Vulindlela in the water sector.
Goals
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Act aims to establish a water agency (NWRIA) to manage mega water infrastructure projects across the country. The agency will also be accountable for addressing project delays as most of the water infrastructure projects are behind schedule like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Mzimvubu Water Project.
Documents
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
The agency's role will be to manage mega projects and support municipalities in putting in place partnerships with the private sector. It also manages several priority programmes including water conservation and demand management, water reuse, wastewater treatment improvement and seawater desalination.
View DetailsIs it working?
The NWRIA is yet to be established. Disestablishment of the TCTA is expected by April 2026.
Actions
• The bill has been enacted into law. • The department tabled another bill in parliament in 2025 that serves to provide for the listing of the NWRIA as a major public entity in Schedule 2 of the Public Finance Management Act, replacing the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority. • The department is aiming for the board appointment before the end of 2025 or early in 2025 to facilitate the transfer of assets and staff by 1 April 2026.
Are there plans?
To form the water agency, this legislation mandates the incorporation of the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), part of the infrastructure branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Trading Entity and all state water assets into this state-owned company.
Is it on the agenda?
Formation of the agency forms part of reforms driven by Operation Vulindlela in the water sector.
Goals
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Act aims to establish a water agency (NWRIA) to manage mega water infrastructure projects across the country. The agency will also be accountable for addressing project delays as most of the water infrastructure projects are behind schedule like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Mzimvubu Water Project.
Documents
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
The bill has been passed by both the NA and the NCOP of the previous administration and now awaits presidential signature.
View DetailsIs it working?
No action yet
Actions
The bill awaits the president's signature.
Are there plans?
To form the water agency, the bill will incorporate the TCTA, part of the infrastructure branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Trading Entity and all state water assets into this state-owned company.
Is it on the agenda?
Legislation awaits president's signature.
Goals
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Bill aims to establish a water agency to manage mega water infrastructure projects across the country. The agency will also be accountable for addressing project delays as most of the water infrastructure projects are behind schedule like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Mzimvubu Water Project.
Documents
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
The bill has been passed by both the NA and the NCOP of the previous administration and now awaits presidential signature .
View DetailsIs it working?
No action yet
Actions
The bill awaits the president's signature.
Are there plans?
To form the water agency, the bill will incorporate the TCTA, part of the infrastructure branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Trading Entity and all state water assets into this state-owned company.
Is it on the agenda?
Legislation awaits president's signature.
Goals
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Bill aims to establish a water agency to manage mega water infrastructure projects across the country. The agency will also be accountable for addressing project delays as most of the water infrastructure projects are behind schedule like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Mzimvubu Water Project.
Documents
Departments / Govt Institutions
Is it working?
No action yet: the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency is yet to be established.
Actions
The bill has been enacted into law.
Are there plans?
To form the water agency, this legislation will incorporate the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), part of the infrastructure branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Trading Entity and all state water assets into this state-owned company.
Is it on the agenda?
Formation of the agency forms part of reforms driven by Operation Vulindlela in the water sector.
Goals
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Act aims to establish a water agency to manage mega water infrastructure projects across the country. The agency will also be accountable for addressing project delays as most of the water infrastructure projects are behind schedule like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Mzimvubu Water Project.
Documents
Departments / Govt Institutions
Is it working?
No action yet: the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency is yet to be established.
Actions
The bill has been enacted into law.
Are there plans?
To form the water agency, this legislation will incorporate the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), part of the infrastructure branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Trading Entity and all state water assets into this state-owned company.
Is it on the agenda?
Formation of the agency forms part of reforms driven by Operation Vulindlela in the water sector.
Goals
The National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Act aims to establish a water agency to manage mega water infrastructure projects across the country. The agency will also be accountable for addressing project delays as most of the water infrastructure projects are behind schedule like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Mzimvubu Water Project.
Documents
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
The WPO, with the DBSA as the mandated implementing partner, was launched in 2023 to facilitate partnerships and private investment in the water industry.
View DetailsIs it working?
The delivery of water and sanitation infrastructure is yet to be accelerated.
Actions
WPO is established.
Are there plans?
To facilitate partnerships and manage joint accounts for specific funding for projects.
Is it on the agenda?
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector. Also manages several priority programmes including water conservation and demand management, water reuse, wastewater treatment improvement and seawater desalination.
Goals
Established by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Partnership Office (WPO) aims to accelerate water and sanitation infrastructure delivery across the country in line with the national water programme. It operates as a special-purpose vehicle to facilitate public-private partnerships, manage funding,and support municipalities in implementing water-related projects.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector through standardised programmes, the Water Investment Authority operates as a special-purpose vehicle to facilitate public-private partnerships, manage funding and support municipalities (and water boards) in implementing water and sanitation-related projects. It also aims to address the challenges municipalities face, including a lack of specialised expertise in managing water supply and quality or in preparing bankable projects. Since its launch (2023), the WPO has adopted/developed six national standardised programmes specifically designed to facilitate private sector participation in municipal water and sanitation services to make it easier, quicker and cheaper for municipalities and water boards to enter into partnerships, without having to ‘reinvent the wheel’ for each partnership: 1. Water reuse programme (WRP): focuses on facilitating water reuse by treating wastewater to potable standards or for industrial and agricultural use. 2. Non-revenue water (NRW) programme: focus on reducing water that is produced and supplied but does not generate revenue because it is lost or unaccounted for before reaching the customer. 3. Water waste treatment (WWT) programme: focuses on assisting municipalities to upgrade, refurbish and rehabilitate wastewater treatment facilities. 4. Non-sewered sanitation (NSS) programme: focuses on fast-tracking and scaling up the adoption of non-sewered sanitation solutions where traditional sewer infrastructure is not feasible or available. 5. Seawater desalination programme: focuses on producing potable water independently through seawater desalination in coastal cities/municipalities. 6. Management contracts programme: focuses on enabling municipalities to contract private sector operators to manage water services efficiently, improving service delivery without a municipality having to build in-house capacity or if it lacks specialised expertise.
View DetailsIs it working?
Progress has been noted in some programmes, including: WRP: • The programme has secured significant funding, notably from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which approved approximately R4.5bnto support climate adaptation and mitigation projects related to water reuse. • 34 municipalities have qualified and are eligible for support with GCF funding. • WPO also invited municipalities, through an expression of interest, to submit water reuse and reclamation projects for funding and support. NRW programme: • eThekwini, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, Buffalo City and Polokwane all requested to participate in the programme, with agreements being negotiated with municipalities. • The WPO, with support from the Infrastructure Fund, has also successfully secured funding from the Budget Facility for Infrastructure. The funding will be used to implement a performance-based contract for the eThekwini's targeted areas of Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu. WWT programme: • WPO is supporting eThekwini in developing wastewater treatment infrastructure, including projects related to the Umdloti and uMkomazi Seawater desalination programme: • Municipalities are starting to develop seawater desalination projects. These include Overstrand, Saldanha Bay and the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape, eThekwini in KZN, and Ndlambe municipality in the Eastern Cape.
Actions
The WPO has been formally established and has developed standardised national programmes aimed at simplifying and accelerating partnerships between municipalities and private players. It has also received funding for some of its programmes. Several initiatives are making steady progress. Two non-revenue water projects are finalising their bankable feasibility studies, paving the way for the appointment of performance-based contracts with private sector partners. In parallel, requests for proposals for two municipal water reuse projects are under evaluation, with preferred bidders set to be announced soon. The WPO is also deploying technical expertise to support the water and sanitation department and advise municipalities on reducing water leaks and improving operational performance.
Are there plans?
Forms part of the department's national water partnerships programme.
Is it on the agenda?
The WPO, with the DBSA as the mandated implementing partner, was launched in 2023 to facilitate partnerships and private investment in the water industry.
Goals
Established by the Department of Water and Sanitation, in partnership with DBSA and SALGA, the Water Partnership Office (WPO), a ring-fenced entity, aims to accelerate water and sanitation infrastructure delivery across the country in line with the national water partnerships programme.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector through standardised programmes, the Water Investment Authority operates as a special-purpose vehicle to facilitate public-private partnerships, manage funding and support municipalities (and water boards) in implementing water and sanitation-related projects. It also aims to address the challenges municipalities face, including a lack of specialised expertise in managing water supply and quality or in preparing bankable projects. Since its launch (2023), the WPO has adopted/developed six national standardised programmes specifically designed to facilitate private sector participation in municipal water and sanitation services to make it easier, quicker and cheaper for municipalities and water boards to enter into partnerships, without having to ‘reinvent the wheel’ for each partnership: 1. Water reuse programme (WRP): focuses on facilitating water reuse by treating wastewater to potable standards or for industrial and agricultural use. 2. Non-revenue water (NRW) programme: focus on reducing water that is produced and supplied but does not generate revenue because it is lost or unaccounted for before reaching the customer. 3. Water waste treatment (WWT) programme: focuses on assisting municipalities to upgrade, refurbish and rehabilitate wastewater treatment facilities. 4. Non-sewered sanitation (NSS) programme: focuses on fast-tracking and scaling up the adoption of non-sewered sanitation solutions where traditional sewer infrastructure is not feasible or available. 5. Seawater desalination programme: focuses on producing potable water independently through seawater desalination in coastal cities/municipalities. 6. Management contracts programme: focuses on enabling municipalities to contract private sector operators to manage water services efficiently, improving service delivery without a municipality having to build in-house capacity or if it lacks specialised expertise.
View DetailsIs it working?
Progress has been noted in some programmes, including: WRP: • The programme has secured significant funding, notably from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which approved approximately R4.5bnto support climate adaptation and mitigation projects related to water reuse. • 34 municipalities have qualified and are eligible for support with GCF funding. • WPO also invited municipalities, through an expression of interest, to submit water reuse and reclamation projects for funding and support. NRW programme: • eThekwini, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, Buffalo City and Polokwane all requested to participate in the programme, with agreements being negotiated with municipalities. • The WPO, with support from the Infrastructure Fund, has also successfully secured funding from the Budget Facility for Infrastructure. The funding will be used to implement a performance-based contract for the eThekwini's targeted areas of Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu. WWT programme: • WPO is supporting eThekwini in developing wastewater treatment infrastructure, including projects related to the Umdloti and uMkomazi Seawater desalination programme: • Municipalities are starting to develop seawater desalination projects. These include Overstrand, Saldanha Bay and the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape, eThekwini in KZN, and Ndlambe municipality in the Eastern Cape.
Actions
The WPO has been formally established and has developed standardised national programmes aimed at simplifying and accelerating partnerships between municipalities and private players. It has also received funding for some of its programmes. Several initiatives are making steady progress. Two non-revenue water projects are finalising their bankable feasibility studies, paving the way for the appointment of performance-based contracts with private sector partners. In parallel, requests for proposals for two municipal water reuse projects are under evaluation, with preferred bidders set to be announced soon. The WPO is also deploying technical expertise to support the water and sanitation department and advise municipalities on reducing water leaks and improving operational performance.
Are there plans?
Forms part of the department's national water partnerships programme.
Is it on the agenda?
The WPO, with the DBSA as the mandated implementing partner, was launched in 2023 to facilitate partnerships and private investment in the water industry.
Goals
Established by the Department of Water and Sanitation, in partnership with DBSA and SALGA, the Water Partnership Office (WPO), a ring-fenced entity, aims to accelerate water and sanitation infrastructure delivery across the country in line with the national water partnerships programme.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector through standardised programmes, the Water Investment Authority operates as a special-purpose vehicle to facilitate public-private partnerships, manage funding and support municipalities (and water boards) in implementing water and sanitation-related projects. It also aims to address the challenges municipalities face, including a lack of specialised expertise in managing water supply and quality or in preparing bankable projects. Since its launch (2023), the WPO has adopted/developed six national standardised programmes specifically designed to facilitate private sector participation in municipal water and sanitation services to make it easier, quicker and cheaper for municipalities and water boards to enter into partnerships, without having to ‘reinvent the wheel’ for each partnership: 1. Water reuse programme (WRP): focuses on facilitating water reuse by treating wastewater to potable standards or for industrial and agricultural use. 2. Non-revenue water (NRW) programme: focus on reducing water that is produced and supplied but does not generate revenue because it is lost or unaccounted for before reaching the customer. 3. Water waste treatment (WWT) programme: focuses on assisting municipalities to upgrade, refurbish and rehabilitate wastewater treatment facilities. 4. Non-sewered sanitation (NSS) programme: focuses on fast-tracking and scaling up the adoption of non-sewered sanitation solutions where traditional sewer infrastructure is not feasible or available. 5. Seawater desalination programme: focuses on producing potable water independently through seawater desalination in coastal cities/municipalities. 6. Management contracts programme: focuses on enabling municipalities to contract private sector operators to manage water services efficiently, improving service delivery without a municipality having to build in-house capacity or if it lacks specialised expertise.
View DetailsIs it working?
Progress has been noted in some programmes, including: WRP: • The programme has secured significant funding, notably from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which approved approximately R4.5bn to support climate adaptation and mitigation projects related to water reuse. • 34 municipalities have qualified and are eligible for support with GCF funding. • WPO also invited municipalities, through an expression of interest, to submit water reuse and reclamation projects for funding and support. NRW programme: • eThekwini, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, Buffalo City and Polokwane all requested to participate in the programme, with agreements being negotiated with municipalities. • The WPO, with support from the Infrastructure Fund, has also successfully secured funding from the Budget Facility for Infrastructure. The funding will be used to implement a performance-based contract for the eThekwini's targeted areas of Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu. WWT programme: • WPO is supporting eThekwini in developing wastewater treatment infrastructure, including projects related to the Umdloti and uMkomazi Seawater desalination programme: • Municipalities are starting to develop seawater desalination projects. These include Overstrand, Saldanha Bay and the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape, eThekwini in KZN, and Ndlambe municipality in the Eastern Cape.
Actions
The WPO has been formally established and has developed standardised national programmes aimed at simplifying and accelerating partnerships between municipalities and private players. It has also received funding for some of its programmes. Several initiatives are making steady progress. Two non-revenue water projects are finalising their bankable feasibility studies, paving the way for the appointment of performance-based contracts with private sector partners. In parallel, requests for proposals for two municipal water reuse projects are under evaluation, with preferred bidders set to be announced soon. The WPO is also deploying technical expertise to support the water and sanitation department and advise municipalities on reducing water leaks and improving operational performance.
Are there plans?
Forms part of the department's national water partnerships programme. Preparation is advanced for the next round of projects, including non-revenue water (NRW) and water reuse programme (WRP) PPPs in eThekwini and Tshwane.
Is it on the agenda?
The WPO, with the DBSA as the mandated implementing partner, was launched in 2023 to facilitate partnerships and private investment in the water industry.
Goals
Established by the Department of Water and Sanitation, in partnership with DBSA and SALGA, the Water Partnership Office (WPO), a ring-fenced entity, aims to accelerate water and sanitation infrastructure delivery across the country in line with the national water partnerships programme.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
The WPO, with the DBSA as the mandated implementing partner, was launched in 2023 to facilitate partnerships and private investment in the water industry.
View DetailsIs it working?
Action met
Actions
WPO is established.
Are there plans?
To facilitate partnerships and manage joint accounts for specific funding for projects.
Is it on the agenda?
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector. Also manages several priority programmes including water conservation and demand management, water reuse, wastewater treatment improvement and seawater desalination.
Goals
Established by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Partnership Office (WPO) aims to accelerate water and sanitation infrastructure delivery across the country in line with the national water programme.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
The WPO, with the DBSA as the mandated implementing partner, was launched in 2023 to facilitate partnerships and private investment in the water industry.
View DetailsIs it working?
Action met
Actions
WPO is established.
Are there plans?
To facilitate partnerships and manage joint accounts for specific funding for projects.
Is it on the agenda?
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector. Also manages several priority programmes including water conservation and demand management, water reuse, wastewater treatment improvement and seawater desalination.
Goals
Established by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Partnership Office (WPO) aims to accelerate water and sanitation infrastructure delivery across the country in line with the national water programme.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
The WPO, with the DBSA as the mandated implementing partner, was launched in 2023 to facilitate partnerships and private investment in the water industry.
View DetailsIs it working?
The delivery of water and sanitation infrastructure is yet to be accelerated.
Actions
WPO is established.
Are there plans?
To facilitate partnerships and manage joint accounts for specific funding for projects.
Is it on the agenda?
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector. Also manages several priority programmes including water conservation and demand management, water reuse, wastewater treatment improvement and seawater desalination.
Goals
Established by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Partnership Office (WPO) aims to accelerate water and sanitation infrastructure delivery across the country in line with the national water programme.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
The WPO, with the DBSA as the mandated implementing partner, was launched in 2023 to facilitate partnerships and private investment in the water industry.
View DetailsIs it working?
The delivery of water and sanitation infrastructure is yet to be accelerated.
Actions
WPO is established.
Are there plans?
To facilitate partnerships and manage joint accounts for specific funding for projects.
Is it on the agenda?
To support municipalities to put in place partnerships with the private sector. Also manages several priority programmes including water conservation and demand management, water reuse, wastewater treatment improvement and seawater desalination.
Goals
Established by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Water Partnership Office (WPO) aims to accelerate water and sanitation infrastructure delivery across the country in line with the national water programme.
Departments / Govt Institutions