PRETORIA, Gauteng — The escalating South Africa water tanker crisis has transformed a temporary emergency measure into a permanent fixture, exposing deep-seated failures in municipal water infrastructure. What was originally designed to provide short-term relief during supply interruptions is now the primary method of accessing a basic human right for a growing number of communities. This systemic failure was thrust into the national spotlight following the tragic death of a 39-year-old man who was run over by a water tanker in Umbumbulu, KwaZulu-Natal, amid intense community frustration over unreliable supplies.
According to Professor Anja du Plessis, a water management expert at the University of South Africa (UNISA), the nation’s reliance on these trucks is treating the symptoms of a collapsing system rather than curing it.
“Water tankers are supposed to be a temporary measure… but what we are seeing now is you are getting lucrative contracts for water tanker tenders,” Professor du Plessis noted. She highlighted that municipalities spent an estimated R2.3 billion on water tanker services in 2024 alone—capital that could have been reinvested into permanent infrastructure.
The financial burden is evident across major metros as well. Johannesburg alone allocated up to R130 million for tankers during the 2024/25 financial year. Du Plessis describes this heavy reliance on tankering as a “band-aid” rather than a sustainable cure. When municipalities become dependent on this band-aid, permanent infrastructure continues to decay, leaving vulnerable populations in the lurch.
The Rise of the “Water Tanker Mafia”
This lucrative industry has birthed what is commonly referred to as the “water tanker mafia.” Because water tankering is a highly profitable business, there is growing evidence and suspicion that existing infrastructure is deliberately sabotaged to sustain these contracts. When pipes fail, municipalities are forced to call in the tankers.
To combat this, entities like Johannesburg Water have attempted to purchase their own fleets to reduce reliance on private tenders and avoid the mafia’s influence. However, Professor du Plessis warns that breaking this dependence remains incredibly difficult as long as the underlying need for emergency water persists.
The crisis also highlights a stark divide in how water scarcity is experienced. In vulnerable rural areas like Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, residents have grown accustomed to the struggle, sitting by dry taps and waiting unpredictably for trucks. Conversely, urban centers are seeing heightened frustrations and escalating protests, as citizens are more acutely aware of their human rights and demand immediate infrastructure repairs.
Ring-Fencing Funds and Political Hurdles
To curb the bleeding of public funds, the National Treasury, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and relevant government oversight departments are pushing for the “ring-fencing” of water revenues. This policy would force municipalities to reinvest water and sanitation payments directly back into infrastructure maintenance rather than diverting the funds elsewhere.
However, challenges persist on the ground. Johannesburg Water, for instance, faces severe funding deficits linked to complex municipal politics and sweeping account issues, leaving the utility without the necessary funds to fix the grid despite recent ring-fencing efforts.
A Blueprint for Incoming Mayors
With the November local government elections approaching, candidates campaigning for mayoral positions across various cities and metros are under immense pressure to address the crisis. When asked what advice she would give to incoming mayors to immediately reduce tanker dependence, Professor du Plessis outlined three critical interventions:
- Identify and Repair Infrastructure Hotspots: Municipalities must increase resources and train personnel to fix leaks, identify problem areas, and shorten emergency response times.
- Upgrade Wastewater Treatment Works: Addressing the severe health impacts of water pollution is vital. In desperate communities like Diepsloot and Alexandra, dry taps force residents to use unsafe alternative water sources, making functional wastewater treatment a critical public health priority.
- Return to the Basics: Ensure foundational infrastructure is operational. This means fixing broken taps and leaking Jojo tanks, particularly in rural areas where residents should not have to “sit next to a tap and wait for something to happen.”
Ultimately, experts agree that while international water challenges vary from dilapidated infrastructure to sheer scarcity, the solution in South Africa requires a return to basic governance: ensuring that the revenue paid by citizens for water and sanitation is visibly and effectively reinvested into reliable, permanent water delivery.
