South Africa's water and sanitation infrastructure has tipped into systemic crisis. By 2026, 47% of wastewater treatment systems were rated critical — up from 39% in 2022 — and 90 of 144 water services authorities were discharging untreated or partially treated sewage into rivers and the environment. Roughly 47% of treated water is lost to leaks and non-revenue water before it reaches a tap.

The Auditor-General recorded 131 water-related material irregularities with R1.76 billion in confirmed losses. The estimated bill to repair the country's water infrastructure is around R400 billion. The South African Human Rights Commission opened a Gauteng inquiry into the water crisis on 21 May 2026. This is corruption and mismanagement expressed as a public-health and environmental emergency.