By Thapelo Molefe
South Africa’s water and sanitation systems are under mounting strain, with nearly half of the country’s wastewater treatment infrastructure now classified as being in a critical state, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina revealed on Tuesday.
Releasing the 2025 Green Drop report alongside Blue Drop and No Drop progress updates, Majodina said the findings paint a “deeply concerning” picture of deteriorating infrastructure and uneven performance across municipalities.
“The findings of the 2025 Green Drop report are deeply concerning,” she said.
“The percentage of wastewater systems in a critical state has increased from 39%… to 47%.”
This translates to 396 out of 848 wastewater treatment systems assessed during the 2023 to 2024 municipal financial year now classified as critical.
At the same time, the number of systems performing at good or excellent levels has dropped sharply, while Green Drop certifications declined from 22 in 2022 to just 14
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