Water - Safe and clean drinking water for all

According to the Constitution of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996), it is every person's right to
have access to clean water.

However, more than 12 million people are still without adequate water supplies.

In its promise to give safe, clean drinking water to all, the UCDP will:

  • Manage water resources in an integrated manner to ensure a healthy, stable water resource base to meet the current and future needs of South Africa, thus ensuring accessible, potable and healthy water for all;
  • Residential areas will have piped water. In dry areas boreholes will be sunk and engines and windmills installed;
  • As a short-term job-creation exercise the locals will be employed to dig the trenches. Some locals will be employed to operate and maintain the engines; and
  • Put in place programmes to establish new female-driven water boards to ensure effective operation of existing schemes, and to promote regional water supply.


Through these boards the UCDP will:

  • Ensure and define the rights of access to basic water-supply and basic sanitation services;
  • Set out the rights and duties of consumers and those who are responsible for providing services;
  • Set national standards, including norms and standards for tariffs, to ensure sufficient, continuous, affordable and fair water services;
  • Promote the effective and sustainable use of financial and natural resources; regulate contracts for the provision of water services to promote their fair and transparent provision; and
  • Create effective and financially viable statutory institutions to assist local government to fulfil its obligations under the Act.