The Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA) welcomes and fully supports the 2025/26 Budget Vote Speech delivered by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Honourable Pemmy Majodina (MP), on July 9, 2025. The Minister’s speech demonstrates clear strategic intent, fiscal responsiveness, and a decisive focus on institutional reform, infrastructure investment, water quality assurance, and sector resilience.

AWSISA applauds the Minister’s commitment to restoring confidence in the public water system through governance strengthening, innovation partnerships, and sound financial management.

AWSISA particularly notes and welcomes the following priorities outlined by the Minister:

• The scaling up of investments in bulk infrastructure and water resource development.
• The firm stance on municipal non-payment, and support for Treasury’s action to enforce accountability.
• The emphasis on professionalising the sector through institutional capacity-building and leadership renewal.
• The reaffirmation of Water Boards’ role as strategic enablers of regional water security and economic development.
• The focus on climate-smart infrastructure and improved operation and maintenance of existing assets.

Minister Majodina’s Budget Vote reflects a pragmatic and visionary approach to addressing South Africa’s water and sanitation challenges, grounded in the principles of equity, sustainability, and efficiency.

AWSISA stands ready to support the Minister and her Department in realising these priorities. We reaffirm our commitment to collaborative action, knowledge-sharing, and accountability as we work together to achieve universal access to safe, reliable, and affordable water and sanitation services.