Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has called for academic institutions to play a central role in addressing South Africa’s water challenges through science-based interventions and innovation.
Speaking at a Water Imbizo hosted by the University of South Africa (UNISA) on Thursday, Mahlobo said the country’s water problems are structural and systemic, requiring coordinated action across government, academia, industry and communities.
South Africa’s water shortages are primarily caused by ageing infrastructure, weak governance, declining municipal capacity, pollution and high levels of non-revenue water, which stands at approximately 47%.
“This is not just a resource challenge. It is a governance, infrastructure and capability challenge that demands coordinated action across the entire system,” Mahlobo said.
The deputy minister said water security is a constitutional obligation and an economic imperative that underpins public health, food security, industrial growth and human dignity.
He warned that without decisive intervention, increasing demand, climate variability and inefficiencies will place growing strain on vulnerable water systems.
Mahlobo said universities and research institutions must be at the centre of the national response, providing solutions informed by data and scientific evidence that can be implemented at scale.
“We must close the gap between knowledge and delivery. Scientific capability must find expression in municipal systems, infrastructure operations and the daily management of water services,” he said.
The deputy minister said the country has sufficient knowledge and innovation but faces challenges in translating research into tangible outcomes.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to stabilising the sector through infrastructure investment, improved municipal performance, strengthened oversight and coordinated interventions under the National Water Crisis Committee chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mahlobo urged all South Africans to recognise water security as a shared national responsibility and to support efforts to protect the country’s limited water resources.
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