By OBAKENG MAJE
1 September 2026 – The plight of farm workers, farm dwellers and rural communities struggling to access reliable and quality water and sanitation services was among the key concerns raised during the final leg of the Limpopo public hearings on the Water Services Amendment Bill in the Waterberg District Municipality.
The residents urged the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation to ensure that the Bill adequately protects the rights of people living in rural communities and on farms, where access to water and sanitation services remains a persistent challenge.
The acting Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, Sello Dithebe said participants highlighted a disparity between the quality of water services provided in rural areas and those available in urban and semi-urban communities. Dithebe said they argued that this disparity undermines the constitutional right of people living in rural areas and on farms to access sufficient and quality water and sanitation services.
“In supporting the Bill, participants said it represented an important opportunity to address these inequalities and improve access to clean, reliable and quality water services. However, residents cautioned that stronger enforcement mechanisms must be incorporated to ensure that the Bill is effectively implemented.
“They argued that legislation without meaningful enforcement measures would do little to address the challenges experienced by communities. Participants also called for strengthened monitoring of designated water services providers to ensure compliance with the conditions of their licences,” he said.
Dithebe further said they further called for a clear and accessible mechanism through which residents can report poor performance, enabling authorities to take appropriate enforcement and consequence-management measures. He added that while the Bill received overwhelming support, some participants expressed opposition, citing the lived experiences of communities who continue to endure inadequate water and sanitation services.
“They highlighted communities that have gone for years without running water, while sewage spillages have become a daily reality. Those opposed to the Bill argued that municipalities are either unwilling or unable to provide quality services and questioned whether the proposed amendments would be sufficient to address these longstanding challenges.
“Participants who opposed the Bill also emphasised the need for broader and more meaningful consultation with affected communities and stakeholders across the entire water services value chain,” said Dithebe.
He said they called for affected groups, particularly women, to be meaningfully consulted throughout the lifecycle of water services licences. Dithebe said with the conclusion of the Limpopo leg, the committee has now conducted public hearings in Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo provinces.
“The committee will communicate the dates and venues for the remaining six provinces in due course. The committee expressed its appreciation for the valuable submissions received from communities and stakeholders during the hearings, noting that the robust participation demonstrated the strength of South Africa’s constitutional democracy and the importance of public involvement in the legislative process,” he said.
The Guardian 