New water infrastructure agency for South Africa set for April 2026 launch
The National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency is on track for establishment by April 2026, aiming to enhance water infrastructure and quality in South Africa.
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The National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) is on track for establishment by April 2026.
The body, according to the presidency, will be a new agency that will be responsible for developing and managing national water infrastructure and will be able to mobilise finance for new projects, including bringing in private investment.
The presidency said the move to establish the agency is aimed at increasing investment in the maintenance and construction of water infrastructure and improved water quality.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Ltd Bill into law in August 2024, paving the way for the establishment of the agency.
As implementation advances, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation said it supported the establishment of the agency and the progress made by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
“It is important that risk mitigation procedures are built into the system to ensure efficiency and success,” said committee chairperson Leon Basson. “Effective operation of assets and ensuring revenue collection through water sales is critical to ensure the sustainability of the entity.”
Basson warned that the agency must avoid repeating the failures of other state-owned entities that have struggled with governance and administrative challenges. The committee also raised concerns about existing debt in the water value chain and potential threats to water sovereignty if the agency fails to meet its financial obligations.
Despite those risks, the committee expressed confidence in the agency’s potential, pointing to the “Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority’s 40-year history of repaying its loans” as evidence that the NWRIA could be similarly managed.
The committee welcomed the upcoming gazetting of a notice to invite applications for board positions and stressed the need for a “strong board... with the skills to ensure that the agency operates on solid ground.”
The committee also called for the retention of skilled staff, saying, “employees remain a critical pillar of the NWRIA’s work”.
It reaffirmed its commitment to finalising the NWRIA Amendment Bill and called for regular updates on the agency’s rollout.