The Department of Water and Sanitation holds a public consultation on Tuesday 27 October on a draft framework that sets water and sanitation targets to 2035.

The department said Cabinet approved publication of the draft for comment. It was gazetted on 11 September 2026 as Government Notice 7914. The draft is a review of the framework promulgated in 2003. The department said it will analyse the submissions before the document goes through the remaining approval steps.

The consultation is at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, according to the department. Written comment closes on Friday 30 October, according to the Parliamentary Monitoring Group.

The scorecard on the 2003 targets

The draft grades the 2003 framework against its own 19 targets. Two are rated achieved: the transfer of the former water department’s assets to municipalities, and putting all external providers under contract. Three are rated not achieved: ending bucket toilets, the national institutional reform strategy, and investment in water infrastructure of at least 0.75% of GDP. The other 14 are rated partially achieved.

The department attaches a caveat to the table. The ratings are a “preliminary default”, it said, and are subject to confirmation with the sector.

Status of the 19 targets in the 2003 frameworkDepartment's preliminary ratings
AchievedAchieved: 22Partially achievedPartially achieved: 1414Not achievedNot achieved: 33
AchievedAchieved: 22Partially achievedPartially achieved: 1414Not achievedNot achieved: 33

Source: Department of Water and Sanitation, draft Strategic Framework for Water and Sanitation Services, section 2.3.1. Chart: Rand Desk

What the new targets ask for

The updated table has 25 targets, 18 of them due in 2035. Several sit later than the date on the sustainable development goal timeline. The main ones are:

  • Everyone on a working basic water supply and basic sanitation by 2035, against 2030 on the goal timeline.
  • All schools and all clinics with adequate and safe water and sanitation by 2035, against 2027 on the goal timeline.
  • 100% compliance with the national drinking water standard, SANS 241.
  • Non-revenue water below 25% nationally. The draft says 37% to 42% of potable water is lost now.
  • 80% of urban households on smart meters by 2032.
  • Renewal of at least 10% of high-risk ageing systems every year.
  • Replacement of at least 30% of end-of-life network assets by 2035.
  • Grant applications to allocate at least 10% to repairs and renewal of linked assets, rising to 20% over time, from 2028.
  • 70% of water services authorities to have provided services on privately owned land by 2035.

According to SAnews, the draft also covers sanitation, gender, climate, the environment, finances, digital systems and service to people on privately owned land. One target says 50% of new hires in water services institutions should be women.

Where the draft says the system is failing

The framework ties many of its targets to maintenance. The draft says the water sector is “facing major challenges” in water and wastewater systems, which it attributes largely to ageing infrastructure and poor maintenance. It names the department’s Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop programmes as the tools for checking compliance, and says a partnership network recognised in the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan is meant to close a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030.

Municipalities run these systems. The government said last week that Bronkhorstspruit’s treatment works ran without chlorine for 20 days, and the draft names water services authorities, with the department, as leads on drinking water compliance.

The consultation is on Tuesday and comment closes on Friday 30 October.