Despite water crisis, dept fails to spend R2bn of its budget

A third of South Africa’s municipalities have dysfunctional wastewater treatment works, but despite a looming drinking water crisis, the department of water and sanitation has failed to spend a massive R2 billion of its budget.

The department’s request to the Auditor-General that the amount be rolled over to the next financial year has been refused, which means its allocation in the new financial year will be R2 billion less.

Department spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said the reduction in budget meant that the department would have to rethink its spending on products and infrastructure.