Municipal water debt hits R23.77 billion, Mahlobo tells rights commission
The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation says government cannot clear the debt alone, as unpaid bulk water bills threaten the financial stability of the country's water boards.
Municipal debt owed to water boards reached R23.77 billion, excluding current accounts, as of 31 July 2026, according to the South African Government. Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo used that figure to press for urgent collective action during a webinar convened by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Wednesday, 09 September 2026.
The webinar was held under the topic “Municipal debt to water boards: Exploring a human rights centric approach.” It brought together stakeholders to examine the causes of the debt, its human rights implications and possible corrective measures.
This report is based on the government’s published media statement rather than the full proceedings of the webinar itself.
How the debt built up
Water boards supply bulk potable water to water services authorities, which are the municipalities responsible for getting that water to households. According to the statement, a range of problems has left some municipalities unable to meet their payment obligations. These include poor revenue collection, weak credit control, governance challenges and financial management weaknesses.
The debt has continued to escalate. The statement says the accumulation is placing significant pressure on the liquidity position of water boards, with some entities experiencing severe cash-flow constraints and an increased risk of financial distress.
The consequences extend beyond the balance sheets of individual institutions. Unpaid bulk water accounts affect the financial capacity of water boards to maintain, refurbish and expand critical water infrastructure. They also place pressure on the ability of those boards to keep delivering sustainable and reliable bulk water services to municipalities.
The continued accumulation of this debt is placing significant pressure on the liquidity position of water boards, with some entities experiencing severe cash-flow constraints and an increased risk of financial distress.
What Mahlobo asked for
In his address, Mahlobo highlighted the need for greater investment in water and sanitation infrastructure. He called for improved water-use efficiency to address water losses, pollution and non-revenue water, which is water that is supplied but never billed or paid for.
He also called for stronger financial discipline and reinvestment in critical infrastructure, alongside more effective billing, credit control and enforcement to improve revenue collection across the water value chain.
The Deputy Minister stressed the need to confront what the statement describes as a culture of non-payment for municipal and basic services. He called for stronger protection of water infrastructure against vandalism, theft and other criminal activities, and for the sector to be better equipped to respond to the growing impacts of climate change.
Addressing municipal debt and the wider challenges in the water sector cannot be the responsibility of government alone, he said. He called for a whole-of-society approach in which communities, businesses, civil society, traditional leaders, indigenous communities and other stakeholders become active partners in how water is used, managed and protected.
“Our view is that this matter of water, for the first time, there is a leadership led by the President, where there is clarity. But as government alone, we are not going to resolve the problem. We need a society approach, working with communities who are partners around water use and sanitation. But also working with businesses, and civil society experts, including indigenous communities and traditional leaders,” Mahlobo said.
Why it matters
Access to water is a constitutional right, and the webinar was framed around the human rights implications of the debt burden. When water boards run short of cash, the effects travel down the chain to the households and businesses that depend on a reliable supply. The statement links the debt directly to the ability of water boards to maintain and expand the infrastructure that delivers that supply.
The figure of R23.77 billion excludes current accounts, meaning it reflects debt that is already overdue rather than bills still within their payment terms. The statement does not give a breakdown by municipality or by water board.
What happens next
Mahlobo reiterated in closing that addressing the debt and the broader challenges in the water sector requires collective leadership, shared responsibility and decisive action. The statement says that through stronger partnerships, responsible water use, sound financial management and decisive action across the water value chain, South Africa can build a more sustainable and resilient water sector that safeguards access to water for present and future generations.
The statement does not set out a deadline, a repayment plan or specific enforcement measures. For more information, the Department of Water and Sanitation directs enquiries to its spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa. The source document is the government’s own summary of the Deputy Minister’s address. The full webinar record, including any contributions from the SAHRC and other participants, has not been published in the material cited here. The canonical source is available.
