If your taps have run dry or you’ve seen sewage spills flooding the streets, you already know something’s not right. South Africa’s water crisis is deepening—fueled by aging pipes, poor municipal management, and staggering levels of water loss. But here’s the hopeful news: it’s not too late to fix it.

Speaking on HOT Business with Jeremy Maggs, powered by Standard Bank, Thabo Kabini, Senior Specialist: Water Infrastructure at Industrial Development Corporation and IFAT Africa Advisory Board member, outlined the most critical failures in the country’s water system. Topping the list: outdated infrastructure, a shortage of skilled professionals, and a staggering volume of non-revenue water—that is, water that’s lost or unaccounted for. In some metros, like Durban and Johannesburg, nearly half the water supply is lost before it reaches your tap.

The problem is rooted not only in physical infrastructure, but also in historic mismanagement and fragmented systems. “Municipalities were amalgamated without considering compatibility in equipment and processes,” says Kabini. “This has created major issues with maintenance and efficiency.”

So, is there a way forward?

“Yes,” says Kabini. “But it will take a coordinated national effort between the public and private sectors—combining skills, funding, and political will.” He points to Cape Town’s water turnaround as a successful local case study. “It proves we can do it.”

Public-private partnerships, policy reforms, and strategic investment are key. Kabini believes reforms under the Department of Water and Sanitation are already laying the groundwork for municipalities to either improve—or have their responsibilities transferred to better-equipped water boards.

The bottom line? This is a crisis—but not an unsolvable one. For South African consumers, it’s a call to stay informed, demand accountability, and support solutions that ensure safe, sustainable water for all.

Listen to the full interview on HOT Business with Jeremy Maggs: