On May 16, 2023, South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, presented an ambitious budget of R40.291 billion for the 2023/24 fiscal year in the National Assembly. The department’s primary objective is to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the water sector, while addressing the existing challenges and shortcomings and providing reliable services to communities.
South Africa, a waterscarce country, faces several challenges in providing its citizens with access to clean water and sanitation services. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has recently presented its budget for the financial year 2023/24, outlining its plans to address these issues. This article provides an indepth analysis of the budget speech, examining the key projects, initiatives, and future plans of the DWS.
The uMkhanyakude District has been facing ongoing water challenges, prompting Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu to embark on a twoday visit to KwaHlabisa and Mtubatuba municipalities in KwaZuluNatal on May 11 and 12, 2023. The purpose of the visit is to provide comprehensive oversight of the refurbishment and upgrading of water supply schemes following the invocation of Section 63 of the Water Services Act, 108 of 1997, in February last year.
