By Thapelo Molefe
Water challenges in the Western Cape are not limited to supply but extend to sanitation and sewage systems, particularly in struggling municipalities, Premier Alan Winde said on Wednesday.
Delivering his 2026 State of the Province Address, Winde pointed to infrastructure failures in towns such as Knysna as evidence of deeper governance and maintenance problems.
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“Just down the road, Knysna is facing a water crisis,” he said.
“The Western Cape Government has offered support through many interventions and even funded some of the critical work with provincial funds. We also tried to place the town under administration, but this was rejected by national parliament saying that all was under control. Well, the exact opposite is the case, and things are only getting worse.”
The town is run by an ANC, PA, Plasslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI) coalition.
Knysna has faced repeated water supply disruptions and sewage system breakdowns in recent years, largely attributed to ageing and unmaintained infrastructure and operational backlogs.
Winde said the situation in the Garden Route reflects broader pressures across the province.
“This region, like many others across our province, is facing serious water security challenges,” he said.
“Just as we acted with urgency to overcome load shedding, we are bringing that same vigour, focus and energy to securing our water future.”
The provincial government aims to secure an additional 310 million cubic metres of water by 2035 through a combination of dam expansion, desalination, groundwater development and water reuse projects.
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One of the largest projects underway is the raising of the Clanwilliam Dam wall, which Winde said will add 69.5 million cubic metres of water to the system each year once completed.
“This will enable investment into thousands of hectares of new agricultural land and give water security to the towns downstream for years to come,” he said.
Desalination is also being used to supplement supply in coastal towns. The Plettenberg Bay desalination plant operated throughout the recent holiday season to meet peak demand, while George has invested in upgrades to its water and sewerage infrastructure.
According to Winde, the province has invested more than R250 million to support municipal water infrastructure, enabling further local government upgrades.
Current projects include pipeline improvements in Overstrand, new reservoirs in Saldanha Bay and increased treatment capacity at the Voelvlei water treatment works in Swartland. He also linked growing infrastructure strain to climate change.
“Climate change knows no borders; it does not keep to timetables,” Winde said, referring to recent cycles of wildfires followed by heavy rainfall in parts of the province.
In Cape Town, the city is preparing to issue tenders for a large-scale water reuse plant and a desalination facility aimed at strengthening long-term resilience.
Water and sanitation remain significant challenges for municipalities across South Africa, with neglected infrastructure, financial constraints and maintenance backlogs affecting service delivery.
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