There have been calls for the constitution to be amended to allow national government to take more control of managing South Africa’s water supply and distribution.

The country has recently been plagued by a series of water shortages and protests surrounding them. Four people died during protests in Mothutlung but water to the area has finally been restored.

Deputy Director General at the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs Trevor Balzer has described South Africa’s water issue as anenormous challenge but not a crisis. “We’re trying to deal with the problem and people need to look at the context of what the department has delivered since 1994,” he said.

Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa described the country’s water situation as a “mammoth problem” which is receiving a “mammoth response”.

Co-ordination between tiers of government and the role of industry which consumes the majority of the country’s water supply have been identified as two major issues. Molewa says a new team has been assembled to communicate better and ensure interruptions are dealt with.

Blazer said that they are dealing with the legacy of run-down infrastructure. He blames a lack of engineers, technicians and artisans in the municipalities for their inability to deal with the breakdown of infrastructure.

Meanwhile water expert Mike Muller told Eyewitness News,“I think it is time that we need to consider a constitutional amendment that gives national government greater powers to intervene when there are clear cases of management failure.”

There has been talk of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela conducting a comprehensive audit of the state of water delivery and infrastructure in South Africa.