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Sanitation

Sanitation is the industry sector concerned with the safe collection, treatment, disposal and reuse of human waste, wastewater and solid refuse to protect public health and the environment. The sector encompasses the design, construction, operation and maintenance of sewerage networks, wastewater treatment plants, on-site sanitation systems such as septic tanks and pit latrines, and stormwater drainage infrastructure. Sanitation services are typically provided by municipal utilities, regional water boards or specialised public agencies, though private-sector participation in operations and maintenance is growing in many African markets. Access to adequate sanitation remains a critical development challenge across sub-Saharan Africa, where millions of people rely on rudimentary facilities or practise open defecation, contributing to waterborne disease outbreaks and environmental degradation. Investment in sanitation infrastructure is closely linked to water supply, urban planning and public health policy, and is often bundled with water services under integrated water and sanitation authorities. The sector is capital-intensive, requiring sustained government funding, development finance and increasingly public-private partnerships to extend coverage and upgrade ageing systems. Sanitation also intersects with resource recovery and the circular economy, as modern treatment technologies enable the extraction of biogas, fertiliser and reclaimed water from waste streams. Regulatory frameworks typically mandate minimum service standards, effluent quality limits and tariff structures to ensure affordability and environmental compliance. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 calls for universal access to adequate and equitable sanitation by 2030, driving policy attention and donor support across the continent.

Sanitation Updates


water tap
Water Committee raises alarm over municipal failure to implement corrective action plans
10th June 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has expressed concern over water services authorities’ continued non-compliance in submitting and implementing corrective action plans. This... 


ECA chief urges scaling up financing for water investments to drive growth, resilience, shared prosperity
28th May 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Africa must urgently close the financing gap for water and sanitation investments if the continent is to accelerate progress on sustainable development, climate resilience and economic... 


IFISA's Mohale Rakgate and the IFC's Cláudia Conceição signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to strengthen project preparation, improve bankability, and accelerate the delivery of high-impact infrastructure.
New initiative aims to grow pipeline of ‘bankable’ water and sanitation projects
22nd May 2026 By: Terence Creamer

A newly formed government agency set up to mobilise private sector participation in public infrastructure has concluded a cooperation agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in a... 


Ramateu Monyokolo
Municipalities can no longer treat their water systems as cash cows
20th May 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

In South Africa, the water utilities and systems are treated as stepchildren, by the various levels of government, affirmed Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (Awsisa)... 


Cape Town continues roll-out of lockable glass-fibre manhole covers to curb vandalism
8th May 2026 By: Irma Venter

The City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) Water and Sanitation Directorate has, to date, installed more than 500 lockable manhole covers across sewer and reticulation infrastructure in the metro. The... 


IFISA's Mohale Rakgate and the IFC's Cláudia Conceição signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to strengthen project preparation, improve bankability, and accelerate the delivery of high-impact infrastructure.
New initiative aims to grow pipeline of ‘bankable’ water and sanitation projects
6th May 2026 By: Terence Creamer

A newly formed government agency set up to mobilise private sector participation in public infrastructure has concluded a cooperation agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in a... 


The treatment set-up
Urine-based system targets nutrient recovery
1st May 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

Urine beneficiation startup PeeCycling is advancing a decentralised fertiliser production model that recovers nutrients and water from human urine, offering a climate-resilient solution for... 


Image of Zamani Saul
SAHRC recommends N Cape state of disaster as report exposes systemic infrastructure failure
22nd April 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has recommended that Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul declare a provincial state of disaster in the Sol Plaatje local municipality, citing an... 


Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo and other officials meeting with community stakeholders about the Meyerton wastewater treatment works
DWS raises concerns over Meyerton wastewater treatment works upgrade delay
15th April 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo on Wednesday raised concern over delays in finalising the R220-million project to upgrade Meyerton wastewater treatment works (WWTW), in the... 


No room for compromise: Protecting quality in plastic pipes
No room for compromise: Protecting quality in plastic pipes
14th April 2026

In a country where reliable water and sanitation infrastructure remains both a pressing need and a long-term national priority, the role of the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers... 


The installation of a lockable manhole cover in Wesbank
Cape Town continues roll-out of lockable glass-fibre manhole covers to curb vandalism
13th April 2026 By: Irma Venter

The City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) Water and Sanitation Directorate has, to date, installed more than 500 lockable manhole covers across sewer and reticulation infrastructure in the metro. The... 


Image of Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina
Some progress on Water Indaba 2025 resolutions, but implementation a year in patchy
10th April 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

A year after the inaugural 2025 Water and Sanitation Indaba set out clear resolutions to reverse the significant decline seen in South Africa’s water sector in the past few years, some progress has... 


Magazine cover image
Strengthening South Africa’s water sector starts with stabilising its infrastructure
27th March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

As South Africa’s water sector continues to deteriorate, strengthening asset management, infrastructure maintenance and institutional reform will be critical, while tackling high levels of... 


Water-focused anticorruption forum ups ante
20th March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) have stepped up the fight against corruption in the water sector with the official launch of the Water Sector... 


Image of a portable toilet to show the Sanitech sanitation prototype
Locally developed sanitation solution for SA mines
19th March 2026

A new sanitation prototype designed specifically for South African mining environments has been developed in-house by Sanitech. The solution treats waste at the point of use, aimed at reducing... 


National Treasury director-general Dr Duncan Pieterse
R54bn performance-based grant launched to support metro infrastructure delivery
19th March 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The National Treasury has officially launched a R54-billion performance-based grant in a bid to increase investments in water, sanitation, electricity and waste infrastructure services by the... 


An image of David Mahlobo
Japan, S Africa visit bolsters water sector
13th March 2026

Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Deputy Minister David Mahlobo – accompanied by senior officials from the DWS and the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) – conducted a... 


Collaborative approach needed to solve South Africa’s water challenges
Collaborative approach needed to solve South Africa’s water challenges
12th March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

South Africa cannot take the same path to resolve its water challenges as it did with the energy sector during the period of loadshedding, as the structure of the water sector is fundamentally... 


Amid infrastructure spending boost, construction firms must tighten project delivery
Amid infrastructure spending boost, construction firms must tighten project delivery
9th March 2026

South Africa’s renewed infrastructure push is creating fresh momentum in the construction sector. More than R1 trillion has been earmarked for public infrastructure over the next three years across... 


Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina
Water-sector-focused anti-corruption task force steps up fight amid broader national anti-graft drive
5th March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) have progressed in the development of the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (WSACF) - a strategic intervention... 


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