South Africa’s Water Crisis Deepens: Agriculture and Food Security on the Line

South Africa is quickly approaching a dangerous tipping point in its water future—one that threatens the foundation of its agricultural sector and food security.

A recent report by analyst JP Landman, released last week, paints a sobering picture: without major interventions, South Africa faces a 17% water shortfall by 2030. As one of the 30 driest countries in the world, this crisis has been building for years—exacerbated by poor infrastructure, mismanagement, and increasing demand.

The Leaking System Behind the Crisis

One of the most alarming figures in the report is that 47% of the country’s water supply is considered “non-revenue water”. That means nearly half of South Africa’s treated water is lost—mostly through leaks, theft, or faulty metering. This figure is far above international norms and continues to climb due to neglected infrastructure and underfunded municipalities.

Municipal mismanagement and maintenance failures have crippled local water delivery, especially in high-growth areas like Gauteng, Nelson Mandela Bay, and parts of the Western and Southern Cape.

Agriculture at Risk

Water is the lifeblood of farming—and 62% of South Africa’s total water supply is used by agriculture, according to Theo Boshoff, CEO of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz). As the population grows and urban areas expand, agriculture is unlikely to receive additional allocations.

That means farmers must work smarter with less. “The focus within the industry is to use water more efficiently,” Boshoff explains. Tools like drip irrigation, water sensors, and shade cloths are becoming the norm to stretch water usage.

But the bigger threat lies in uncertain water rights and allocation processes. Francois Rossouw, CEO of the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), warns that without secure, transparent water rights, farmers face unpredictable access to this critical resource.

“If we don’t fix this, we’ll see rising food prices, drops in productivity, and serious strain on consumers and farmers alike,” he said.

Broken Treatment Plants and Overuse

South Africans use an average of 233 litres per person per day—well above the global average of 173 litres. In places like Gauteng, the number pushes close to 300 litres.

And it’s not just consumption that’s a problem. The 2023 Blue Drop, Green Drop, and No Drop reports show that more than half of South Africa’s water treatment systems failed or barely passed quality tests. An alarming 64% of wastewater plants are considered high-risk for releasing untreated sewage into the environment.

Can Projects Like the Lesotho Highlands Scheme Help?

Hope rests partly on large-scale infrastructure projects, including the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which supplies water to Gauteng and other parts of the country. But progress has been slow and largely undercut by weak local governance.

South Africa also relies heavily on 22 strategic water sources across five provinces—some of which draw from cross-border rivers in Lesotho and Eswatini. This complex dependency requires urgent, coordinated management—something many experts say is still missing.

A Call for Inclusive Policy Reform

Both Boshoff and Rossouw agree: tackling this crisis requires consultation with agricultural stakeholders. Without farmers at the table, water policy risks missing the mark entirely.

“Water policy must be efficient, fair, and transparent,” said Rossouw. “Otherwise, we’re putting the country’s food future in jeopardy.”

As South Africa inches toward 2030, the message is clear: fix the leaks—both literal and systemic—or face the consequences in our fields and at our tables.

{Source IOL}

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