SA’s water woes deepen as Green Drop report flags failing wastewater systems
The report assessed 848 municipal wastewater treatment systems for the 2023/24 financial year, revealing a concerning deterioration.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina says the 2025 Green Drop Report revealed that many waste treatment systems do not meet the requirements.
She says that the findings are deeply concerning.
Wastewater systems in crisis
The report assessed 848 municipal wastewater treatment systems for the 2023/24 financial year, revealing a concerning deterioration.
Systems in a critical state rose from 39% in 2022 to 47% in 2025, while those performing at good or excellent levels fell from 14% to just 8%.
Only 14 Green Drop certifications were awarded this year, down from 22 in 2022, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
Majodina noted that the Green Drop Report is complemented by the Blue Drop and No Drop Progress Assessment Reports, which monitor drinking water quality and water-use efficiency.
While national improvements are modest, critical and high-risk systems still demand urgent attention.
NC and FS flagged as high-risk water regions
Provinces like the Northern Cape and Free State continue to lag, whereas Western Cape and Gauteng show stronger performance.
The Northern Cape recorded the highest number of poorly performing systems, with mining activities also contributing to pollution challenges in the province.
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"You will understand that the Northern Cape is the home of the mining sector, and the mining sector is also playing a negative role in terms of pollution in the area. So, the sooner we get closer to the mining [sector] to partner with the Northern Cape as a province for us to turn around the situation," she said.
The province has the highest concentration of critical-risk systems and shows serious weaknesses across several performance indicators.
The Free State is also a major concern, with ongoing challenges in water management.
Govt calls for urgent reforms
The minister stressed that infrastructure handovers, including multiple water and sanitation projects completed during National Water Month, are steps in the right direction but not enough on their own.
"Whenever we say the infrastructure has not been operated and it has not been maintained, most of the municipalities think that we are attacking them. We are not attacking anyone, but we are playing our oversight and monitoring role as the Department of Water and Sanitation," she said.
Majodina highlighted the government’s multi-pronged response to the national water crisis, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa through the National Water Crisis Committee.
She called for strengthened delivery models, enhanced technical capacity, institutional reform, and a crackdown on corruption to ensure long-term sustainability.
“The Green Drop Report must be your turning point. Confront it honestly, develop corrective action plans, strengthen operations, fill critical vacancies, restore discipline, and act with urgency. Communities cannot live with broken promises or polluted rivers. Your water, your sanitation, your health, and your dignity are non-negotiable.”
Majodina pointed out that this report clearly outlines what needs to be done and what should be avoided.
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