The South Africa Department of Water and Sanitation will begin an outreach campaign today in an attempt to increase water security in Mpumalanga – Photo: 360 Mozambique

South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) will begin a public outreach campaign today in Mpumalanga.

As part of the public outreach campaign, the DWS will hold national consultations with key stakeholders to ensure the delivery of water services to private lands in line with the Draft Policy on Water and Sanitation Services provision on Privately Owned Land. Some of the lands prioritized will be commercial farms, residential complexes, and trust properties.

The Draft Policy framework was developed following a 2017 court judgment that declared unconstitutional the failure of the Water Services Authorities (WSA) to supply farmers with access to adequate water resources. Water levels in the number of the country’s reservoirs have decreased due to less precipitation and increased water demand across the country.

Ensuring water resources in South Africa, especially in growing cities like Cape Town will become increasingly vital as concerns surrounding water and sanitation infrastructures come to the fore. Reduced water levels, a number of sewage spillages and other infrastructural issues with water and sanitation systems could put immense pressure on the country which is already facing an electricity crisis with electricity provider Eskom. The food industry will experience the immediate effects of the water supply and electricity crisis, especially chicken farmers and smaller food retailers.