WATER SANITATION HYGIENE (WASH)

South Africa has made measurable progress in household access to water and sanitation but important gaps remain at the community level — especially in rural areas, informal settlements and overloaded municipal systems. In 2024 about 77.1% of households had at least a basic level of drinking water; however many households still lack in-dwelling piped water, and access to safely-managed sanitation and hygiene services remains incomplete. Weak infrastructure, aging assets, governance and funding shortfalls, plus climate change and increasing extreme weather, drive local failures that directly raise the risk of diarrhoeal disease and outbreaks such as cholera in the regionRural communities: often rely on boreholes, communal standpipes or seasonal streams. Maintenance of boreholes and water committees is inconsistent; long collection times disproportionately burden women and children. 

• Health: Proper WASH prevents diarrhoeal disease, reduces child mortality, and limits waterborne outbreaks (e.g., cholera). Even short interruptions or contaminated water increases disease risk. 

• Education & gender equality: Safe WASH in schools keeps children (especially girls) in school; lack of facilities reduces attendance. 

• Economic resilience: Time spent collecting water and illness from unsafe WASH reduce productivity and incomes. Fixing local WASH saves healthcare costs and improves livelihoods. 

• Human rights & SDGs: Access to safe water and sanitation is framed as a basic human right and central to meeting SDG6 (clean water & sanitation). National progress must be equitable across communities.