Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
28 March 2025 | 09:25 CAT

Residents carry water in Swazi Township, Daveyton in Ekurhuleni. (Photo: Gallo Images / OJ Koloti)

Amid worsening water shortages and crumbling infrastructure, Build One South Africa (BOSA) has staged a protest outside the National Water and Sanitation Indaba in Midrand, calling for urgent intervention.

While the Indaba aims to address the country’s water security crisis and develop sustainable solutions, BOSA has criticised the government’s approach, dismissing the gathering as yet another “talk shop” that fails to bring about real change.

“We no longer need talk shops. We need action,” said BOSA Board Chair Stevens Mokalapa in an interview with Radio Islam International. “For too long, this water crisis has deprived South Africans of their constitutional right to clean water. Water is a fundamental human right, and we are done talking. We want action, and we want it now.”

BOSA has taken decisive steps to force government intervention, including launching a litigation case to stop water rationing in critical public institutions such as schools, hospitals, and police stations. Their demands include immediate infrastructure repairs, financial accountability, and long-term structural relief to prevent the crisis from deepening.

“We need cooperative governance to mobilise resources and fix this crisis,” Mokalapa stressed. “National government must ensure infrastructure upgrades and funding where necessary, while municipalities must be held accountable for maintaining water systems.”

Among the pressing concerns is the alarming rise of water mafias, who sabotage pipelines to profit from water tanker services. This, coupled with the government’s failure to maintain public water infrastructure, has left millions without reliable access to clean water.

“The situation in Johannesburg is dire,” Mokalapa explained. “There are endless water leaks, unplanned cuts, and an infrastructure system that has been neglected for years. Corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of planning have only worsened the crisis.”

BOSA is urging the government to abandon endless summits and implement clear, actionable plans to restore and improve water infrastructure. “Water is not just a resource—it is a lifeline. The time for talk has passed; it is now time for action.”

As the crisis deepens, all eyes remain on whether the government will heed the call for immediate reform or continue on a path of inaction.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Annisa Essack and Stevens Mokalapa here.