SA’s water crisis puts farmers and food security at risk

As the country celebrates Human Rights Day, leaders in the agricultural sector have said the water crisis in the country needs more attention and meaningful collaboration between private and public partnerships.

This is especially crucial as the country observes National Water Week, leading to International Water Day tomorrow.

Roelie van Reenen, supply chain executive at Beefmaster Group, said the irony is that water is a human right, but it is not a reality at present for many citizens of South Africa’s agri-centric towns.

“We want to see commitment for improved access to clean water, with communities playing a leading role in securing this fundamental right,” Van Reenen said.

Farming towns neglected

According to Van Reenen, the month-long initiative aims to promote water conservation, highlight infrastructure development and mobilise South Africans to protect and preserve the country’s limited water resources. Yet, for many communities, particularly in agricultural towns, access to reliable and safe water remains far from guaranteed.

Van Reenen believes that more pressure needs to be exerted by the public to demand a better supply of quality water.

“Dysfunctional and non-compliant wastewater treatment works, mismanagement, under-investment and misuse of funds, as well as a lack of skills, are to blame for unsafe water. This a severe issue that should enrage the public.

“Individuals within failing systems should be held accountable when lives are lost due to inadequate water supply, particularly where there has been a history of inaction by those responsible for service provision.”
Roelie van Reenen

Recent national assessments highlight the scale of the challenge. The latest Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports indicate significant deterioration in the performance of water systems across several provinces.

Van Reenen said the findings should serve as a wake-up call. “The reports provide us with a glimpse into the severity of the problem, serving as a crucial starting point. While they are a welcome step to tackling the issue, it is disconcerting that the findings, and South Africa’s water situation more generally, haven’t sparked a more resounding outcry.”

Water issues run deep

Meanwhile, the chief executive officer of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA), Dr Lester Goldman, said infrastructure funding alone is not enough; skilled professionals are what turn investment into results.

“Capacity speaks of the right mix of people, processes and policies within organisations responsible for water, but skills are about the people themselves possessing standards‑based talent to perform their duties effectively.

“Community participation is essential to preserving this precious but scarce resource, without which we cannot survive,” he said.

Vegetable farmer in Taung in North West, Dolly Modisagaarekwe, said water accessibility in their area has been a huge challenge for years now and affects her operations.

“Although I am not a big farmer, I do have a market, which is the people who come through and buy my vegetables. The water that, at times, lasts weeks without coming out in this heat impacts my produce negatively, as the quality weakens. It is a threat to me losing my market and the earnings I get from this farming business,” she said.

Deputy minister of water and sanitation, David Mahlobo, stressed that South Africa’s water challenges are structural and systemic.

“This is not just a resource challenge. It is a governance, infrastructure and capability challenge that demands coordinated action across the entire system.

“Water security is a constitutional, developmental and economic imperative, underpinning public health, food security, industrial growth and human dignity,” he said.

Water and gender

The executive director of WaterCan, Dr Ferrial Adam, said that while World Water Day is celebrated under the theme of water and gender, it is an opportunity to reflect on progress. He noted that in South Africa, there is little to celebrate when many communities continue to face persistent water insecurity.

“Failures in service delivery, ongoing pollution of rivers and dams, and inequitable infrastructure mean that water remains a daily struggle for millions, particularly for women and children.

“Access to safe, reliable water in South Africa is still deeply unequal, and these disparities often hit women the hardest. Women and girls are frequently responsible for collecting water, managing household needs, and caring for sick family members,” she said.