CAPE TOWN — President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to stemming the tide of water sector corruption, outlining significant progress in dismantling the notorious water tanker mafia and implementing the newly released National Water Action Plan. Speaking during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, the President emphasized that these strategic measures are designed to resolve the ongoing water crisis and secure sustainable resources for deprived communities.
Addressing the widespread criminality plaguing the country’s water infrastructure, President Ramaphosa highlighted targeted efforts to combat the theft of metal components, which are frequently stripped from public systems and illegally sold as scrap metal. He noted that authorities are making effective, measurable progress in neutralizing the operations of the water tanker mafia, a criminal network that has long exploited municipal vulnerabilities.
Central to the administration’s strategy is the National Water Action Plan, which the President described as a “silver bullet” for the country’s ongoing water challenges. Released last month following a period of significant delay, the comprehensive strategy is designed to serve as a definitive roadmap for overhauling the sector.
President Ramaphosa expressed strong confidence that the full implementation of the National Water Action Plan will directly result in the resolution of the current water crisis. He outlined two primary objectives of the plan: restoring reliable, clean water access to historically deprived communities and decisively eradicating raw sewage pollution.
Beyond immediate crisis management, the President stressed that the strategy is designed to address the urgent water challenges communities face today while simultaneously establishing a robust foundation for a sustainable and secure water supply into the future.
“The implementation of the National Water Action Plan will result in the resolution of the water crisis,” President Ramaphosa stated, underscoring the administration’s dedication to both immediate relief and long-term infrastructural security.
