The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and Water Shortage SA announced plans last week to launch an independent water regulator, warning that water security could not be left in the hands of the government.
Lobbyists say the water and sanitation department has missed the boat on even the most basic levels, including a sluggish response to water shortage threats.
It has also failed to publish the blue and green drop reports on water quality since 2014.
Prof Gina Ziervogel of the department of environmental geographical science at the University of Cape Town (UCT) said it was unfortunate that the department had failed to adequately fulfill its mandate.
“It is clear from the Cape Town drought case that there are significant weaknesses in the system. There was no clarity on roles of each level of government (city/provincial/national) which was problematic,” she said. Ziervogel said the fact that even after the drought experienced in the Western Cape there was still no proper legislation or plans in place to avert the situation proved that an independent body was needed...