The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has released a stinging report into the ongoing water, sanitation and wastewater crisis affecting residents of Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape.

The report, titled ‘Water and Sanitation Crisis in Makana Municipality’ released on 12 June 2026, paints a concerning picture of persistent failures of governance, financial mismanagement, and service delivery failures and the impact these failures continue to have on communities.

According to the SAHRC, the crisis is not primarily the result of insufficient water resources. Evidence presented to the Commission confirmed that adequate bulk water supplies remain available. Instead, the report points to systemic failures in managing and delivering essential water and sanitation services.  [READ MORE]

The Commission identified recurring water outages affecting households, schools, healthcare facilities, businesses and vulnerable communities. It also highlighted dysfunctional wastewater treatment infrastructure, frequent sewage spillages, environmental contamination and ongoing public health risks. Of particular concern is the continued use of the bucket sanitation system in certain communities, despite national efforts to eradicate the practice more than two decades ago. 

In addition, the investigation found evidence of persistent governance failures, financial mismanagement and institutional instability within the municipality. The report noted that previous provincial and national interventions have had limited success in restoring sustainable service delivery and addressing constitutional rights violations experienced by residents. 

Given the prolonged nature of the crisis and the shortcomings of earlier interventions, the SAHRC has recommended that the Eastern Cape Provincial Executive urgently assess whether the conditions for intervention under Section 139(1)(c) of the Constitution have been met. This includes considering the dissolution of the Makana Municipal Council as a measure of last resort. The Commission has also urged the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the Department of Water and Sanitation to review whether Makana Municipality should continue exercising its Water Services Authority functions. 

The report underscores the urgent need for accountable governance at local government level and for decisive action to safeguard the rights, health and wellbeing of Makana residents.

Read the SAHRC Report “Water and Sanitation Crisis in Makana Municipality”