CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the newly launched National Water Action Plan will serve as the definitive solution to rampant water sector corruption, marking a turning point in the government’s fight against the water tanker mafia. During a robust question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, the President assured lawmakers that decisive progress is already underway to secure the country’s critical water infrastructure and resolve the ongoing national water crisis.
Highlighting the specific criminal elements undermining public resources, President Ramaphosa pointed to coordinated enforcement efforts aimed at stopping the illicit stripping of municipal metal components. These vital infrastructure parts have frequently been stolen and funneled into the illegal scrap metal market. Alongside this, the administration is actively neutralizing the water tanker mafia, with the President noting that authorities are effectively gaining ground against these exploitative networks.
The cornerstone of this anti-corruption drive is the National Water Action Plan, which the President characterized as a “silver bullet” for the country’s systemic water challenges. Although the comprehensive strategy faced considerable delays before its official release last month, it is now being positioned as the critical framework for overhauling the sector.
Expressing strong confidence in the roadmap, President Ramaphosa emphasized that executing the National Water Action Plan will directly resolve the prevailing water crisis. The initiative is specifically designed to restore consistent, reliable water access to deprived communities while simultaneously tackling the severe environmental and health issue of sewage pollution.
Beyond mitigating the immediate hardships faced by residents, the President stressed that these interventions are building a resilient framework. The ultimate objective is to guarantee a sustainable and secure water supply for future generations, transforming a sector long plagued by criminality into one of reliability and public trust.
