Water crisis: What the ANC, DA, EFF and MK party promise ahead of the 4 November local elections

The ANC, DA, EFF and MK party have all promised to fix South Africa’s water crisis, but they differ on how. Their local government manifestos set out plans ranging from private investment to tighter state control, with less than a month to go before the 4 November elections.

South Africa faces a severe and worsening water crisis. Ageing infrastructure, poor municipal management, high non-revenue water losses and climate pressures drive the crisis.

The ANC pledged to invest at least 8% of the value of municipal assets in maintenance and renewal each year. It also set a five-year target of cutting non-revenue water to below 30% in every metropolitan municipality.

Additionally, the ANC vowed to treat dirty water as a health emergency. It was blunt about water contamination.

E. coli and sewage contamination of rivers and other water sources will be treated as urgent public health risks requiring immediate action.