Department of Water and Sanitation consults water users on the proposed 2027/28 Raw Water Use Charges
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) engaged key stakeholders on the proposed 2027/28 Raw Water Use Charges during a sector-specific consultation held in Pretoria on Thursday, 13 August 2026. The consultation formed part of the Department’s ongoing process of engaging water users before the recommended charges are finalised and submitted to the Minister of Water and Sanitation for consideration.
The engagement gave water users from across key sectors an opportunity to interrogate the proposed charges, raise sector-specific concerns and provide direct input into the tariff-setting process. The consultation is a critical step in ensuring that the perspectives and operational realities of water users are reflected before the charges for the 2027/28 financial year are finalised.
Discussions centred on proposed charges across major water-use sectors, including agriculture, municipalities, industry and mining, strategic users, stream flow reduction activities and non-consumptive water use. Stakeholders also considered the charge categories that fund water resource management, infrastructure, research, economic regulation and waste mitigation.
Stakeholders welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with the Department and acknowledged improvements in the consultation process, noting that it had become more inclusive and provided meaningful opportunities for water users to contribute to the determination of raw water charges.
Closing the engagement, DWS Deputy Director-General Mr Xolani Zwane thanked stakeholders for their constructive participation and valuable inputs, confirming that the final recommended charges will be presented on 27 August 2026 before being submitted to the Minister of Water and Sanitation for consideration.
The consultation was attended by representatives from uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW), Agri South Africa (AgriSA), the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA), Forestry South Africa (Forestry SA), the South African Association for Water User Associations (SAAFWUA), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Magalies Water, Rand Water, National Treasury, the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), the Water Research Commission (WRC), and other key institutions.
The Department reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent and inclusive process that balances the interests of water users with the need to sustainably manage South Africa’s water resources and maintain the infrastructure that underpins the country’s water security.
Media Enquiries:
Departmental Spokesperson
Ms Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 060 561 8935
Email: mavasaw@dws.gov.za
#ServiceDeliveryZA
