A closer look at water and electricity accessibility in South Africa, highlighting provincial disparities and service delivery challenges

Recent findings from Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA) Census 2022 report indicate that while most South African households have access to essential services such as piped water, electricity, and sanitation, the quality of these services remains inconsistent across provinces. The report, titled The State of Basic Service Delivery in South Africa: Analysis of Census 2022 Data, reveals significant provincial disparities, with households in the Western Cape and Gauteng generally receiving more reliable service than those in other provinces.

Access to Water: High Coverage with Regional Challenges

Stats SA found that 91.3% of South African households now have access to piped water, affirming the government’s commitment to meeting the minimum standards outlined in the Water Services Act. Despite this, the quality of water delivery varies sharply across regions. For example, the Western Cape has the highest access rate at 95.7%, while the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo see higher rates of households relying on unsafe water sources like rivers or springs. Water interruptions have also risen nationwide, affecting 48.4% of households, particularly in rural municipalities where consistent supply remains a pressing issue.

Provincial Water Supply Challenges

The report highlights distinct provincial disparities in water access and reliability:

Western Cape and Gauteng: Households experience fewer interruptions, with access rates of 95.7% and 94.4%, respectively.
Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo: A notable percentage of households in these provinces depend on unsafe water sources or water vendors, with Limpopo showing a high reliance on boreholes.

Municipalities play a critical role in water distribution, yet only 169 out of 205 municipalities are authorized to provide water and sanitation services, contributing to supply inconsistencies in under-serviced areas.

Electricity Access: Municipal Challenges and Rising Costs

Census data shows that 94.7% of South African households have access to electricity, with the vast majority (93.4%) using it primarily for lighting. However, many households still turn to alternative energy sources, such as wood or coal, for cooking due to electricity cost and availability concerns. Municipal debt to Eskom has become a significant problem, with some municipalities lacking service agreements, raising the risk of electricity cutoffs that could further disrupt service delivery for residents.

Sanitation and Waste Removal: Progress and Gaps

Access to proper sanitation facilities has improved over the past decade, with 70.9% of households now using flush toilets. However, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape have the lowest percentages of flush toilet access, highlighting a need for increased investment in sanitation infrastructure in these regions. Solid waste removal services have also seen an uptick, with 67.1% of households now receiving weekly waste removal, though Limpopo and Mpumalanga report the highest rates of households still relying on personal refuse dumps.

Provincial Overview of Service Delivery Quality

Western Cape: High access to water (95.7%), flush toilets (93.9%), and solid waste removal (90.4%) position the Western Cape as a leader in basic service delivery.
Gauteng: Close behind, with high rates of piped water access (94.4%) and electricity coverage, though recent water interruptions have caused challenges in the Johannesburg area.
Limpopo and Mpumalanga: These provinces report lower rates of flush toilet access and face ongoing water supply issues, with a substantial reliance on vendors and boreholes for water and a high use of personal refuse dumps.

Bridging the Service Quality Gap

While Stats SA data demonstrates encouraging progress in extending water, electricity, and sanitation access, quality gaps persist, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Addressing these issues requires targeted infrastructure investment and enhanced municipal accountability to ensure that all South African households can rely on consistent, safe, and affordable services.

Also read: Adhering to Water Restrictions Crucial for South Africa’s Future, Warns Expert