SAHRC concludes public hearings into Gauteng’s worsening water crisis

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is concluding its public hearings into Gauteng’s worsening water crisis on Thursday.

The commission is investigating whether repeated and prolonged water outages, infrastructure failures, and inconsistent access to clean water constitute a systemic violation of basic human rights.

The inquiry was launched after a sharp increase in complaints from communities affected by recurring disruptions.

Over the course of the hearings, the commission has heard testimony from municipal officials, water entities, civil society organisations, and community representatives.

Stakeholders, including advocacy group WaterCan, outlined concerns over ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance, governance failures, and the long-term sustainability of Gauteng’s water supply system.

The hearings have also examined the social and economic consequences of the crisis, particularly in vulnerable communities where residents are often forced to rely on water tankers and unsafe alternative sources.

The commission said the inquiry aims to determine accountability and identify urgent interventions needed to address the ongoing crisis and prevent further violations of residents’ rights.