Licensing and production
Water use licenses for hydropower generation are not yet issued. It is related to the reform Water hydropower licensing HALTED: We stopped tracking this reform at end-June 2025. It is also part of the water hydropower licensing reform.
read more >>Blue Drop / Green Drop publication
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides update on the performance of wastewater management systems at municipal level.The reports have been published.
read more >>Municipal intervention strategy
No or little evidence of action. HALTED: We stopped tracking this reform at end-June 2025 and merged it into OV2 wider water reforms programme.
read more >>Water Partnerships Office
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…
read more >>National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency Act
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.
read more >>Policy document and implementation
The revised water pricing strategy (Pricing Strategy for Raw Water Use Charges) was published in the Government Gazette in June 2024, following the draft document in 2022. https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202406/50852gon4992.pdf
read more >>Permanent strategy implemented
Water pricing strategy finalised. The department is conducting consultations with water users and water management institutions to discuss and prepare for the implementation of the updated water pricing strategy, which is scheduled to take effect from 1 April 2026
read more >>Develop a National Water Action Plan
The National Water Action Plan, yet to be developed, will outline measures to be implemented at all levels of government. Its overarching strategy is to ensure reforms and legislation are prioritised and sequenced correctly.
read more >>Establish a coordination structure to oversee implementation of the National Water Action Plan
A group similar to Necom is likely to be formed to oversee implementation of the National Water Action Plan, which will provide central oversight, prevent duplication, ensure accountability and accelerate project delivery.
read more >>Amend the Water Services Act to create a separation between water service authorities and water service providers.
The Water Services Amendment Bill creates a separation between water service authorities and water service providers. It is yet to be tabled in Parliament. It also enables the creation of an independent water regulator. It enables DWS to license providers, enforce standards and intervene where municipalities fail. The Bill could pave the way for more…
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