South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation is advancing a national framework to improve water quality, infrastructure, accountability and access to reliable sanitation services countrywide.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is moving closer to finalising its proposed Strategic Framework for Water and Sanitation Services (SFWSS), following a national consultation workshop held in Boksburg, Gauteng, on 30 October 2026.
The workshop brought together representatives from government, municipalities, water sector organisations, academia and civil society to review the draft framework and identify priorities for improving water and sanitation services across South Africa.
The national engagement followed consultations conducted in all provinces, where stakeholders identified local service delivery challenges, shared experiences and proposed interventions to strengthen the country’s water and sanitation systems.
The framework aims to establish a coordinated approach to planning, delivering, regulating and managing water and sanitation services while responding to changing infrastructure needs and persistent service delivery challenges.
Participants included representatives from the World Bank, University of South Africa, Eskom, Department of Human Settlements, Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority, Rand Water, Magalies Water, South African Bureau of Standards and University of Johannesburg.
A central focus of the discussions was the development of measurable sector targets intended to strengthen accountability and improve performance.
These proposed targets address water quality compliance, free basic services, hygiene education, digital water metering, the reduction of non-revenue water and the replacement of ageing infrastructure.
Non-revenue water, which includes water lost through leaks and other losses or supplied without generating revenue, remains an important area of focus for improving the efficiency and financial sustainability of water services.
The proposed framework also seeks to improve monitoring, strengthen regulatory compliance and encourage more efficient water use.
Stakeholders were invited to identify gaps in the draft framework and recommend improvements to ensure that national priorities reflect the realities facing municipalities and communities.
Their recommendations will inform the next stage of the framework’s development.
DWS has confirmed that written submissions and additional comments will remain open until 15 November 2026, allowing stakeholders further opportunity to contribute before the document is finalised.
Following the submission deadline, the department will consolidate the feedback and incorporate relevant recommendations before presenting the framework to the appropriate governance structures for consideration and approval.
The consultation process also highlighted opportunities for stronger partnerships between DWS and institutions with expertise in infrastructure, research, technical development and service delivery.
Such collaboration is considered essential to addressing interconnected challenges that cannot be resolved by government institutions working independently.
Through the proposed Strategic Framework for Water and Sanitation Services, DWS aims to strengthen coordination, improve accountability and support more reliable, safe and sustainable water and sanitation services for communities throughout South Africa.
