David Mahlobo says water access has increased to 91.3% under the ANC, Mzansi questions claim

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo has sparked a heated debate after presenting upbeat statistics regarding the country's utility infrastructure. During an ANC media briefing in Johannesburg, the official claimed that water access has reached 91.3% under the current administration.

The briefing, held at Chief Albert Luthuli House on August 16, was intended to review the party's progress ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. Mahlobo credited 32 years of policy direction for expanding services to previously marginalized communities.

Stats versus Reality

In addition to the water access figures, Mahlobo stated that sanitation access now stands at 85.6%. He emphasized that South Africa is still on course to meet its international Sustainable Development Goal commitments, citing President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership on resource security.

However, the public response online was swift and skeptical. Many citizens voiced concerns that these high percentages do not reflect the lived experience of residents who endure frequent water outages and crumbling local infrastructure.

Municipalities in the Spotlight

The celebratory tone of the briefing stands in contrast to recent actions taken by the Department of Water and Sanitation itself. The department recently initiated legal proceedings against 53 different water authorities for failing to meet basic delivery standards.

Concerns regarding water quality are also mounting as municipal mismanagement continues. Current reports suggest that nearly half of the nation's water authorities are struggling, leaving many communities at risk of receiving unsafe drinking water.

While Mahlobo maintains that the ANC is delivering on constitutional rights, the disconnect between government data and the state of municipal services remains a primary concern for voters heading into the next election cycle.