President Cyril Ramaphosa has released the National Water Action Plan on 23 July 2026, four months after the promised deadline. The plan is managed by a new committee called Watercom and targets infrastructure, corruption and revenue issues in the water sector.
President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled the National Water Action Plan on Thursday, 23 July 2026. The release came after a meeting of the National Water Crisis Committee, known as Watercom. Ramaphosa had announced the committee in his February State of the Nation Address.
Watercom is modelled on the National Energy Crisis Committee that addressed load shedding. It is chaired by Ramaphosa and includes ministers Pemmy Majodina, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Velenkosini Hlabisa. The committee will work with municipalities on infrastructure investment, legal reforms and anti-corruption measures.
Ramaphosa said the plan sets out short, medium and long-term interventions to ensure water security. His spokesperson Vincent Magwenya noted that revenues must be ring-fenced for maintenance. The plan also includes a partnership with the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure to tackle theft and vandalism.
On the same day Ramaphosa launched the National Water Access Acceleration Programme in Hammanskraal with 67 boreholes to mark International Nelson Mandela Day.
