The Inquiry was held in Durban from Monday, 15 August 2022 to Friday, 19 August 2022. During this period, the Commission engaged with and received submissions from stakeholders representing all corners of the province, from both State and non-State actors and institutions, as well as individual members of communities and civil societies.

The inquiry was conducted in response to the current water crisis in KwaZulu Natal (KZN). The Commission’s KwaZulu Natal provincial office has, since 2020, received more than 600 complaints regarding access to water. These complaints relate to wide-spread water shortages in communities; in some instances, no access to water for more than 7 days; inconsistent water supply or water disconnection issues; lack of alternative measures such as provisioning of water tankers; poor water quality and polluted water in some instances. Complaints relating to disputes with billing have also been received.

The issue of poor or no access to water remains a current day-to-day challenge for many residents in KZN, communities, schools, businesses, and other organisations across the province. These challenges have been highlighted to a great extent by various media reports. Most municipalities’ responses to the complaints are inadequate in that they are unable to provide appropriate and sustainable redress to the affected communities.

Consequently, noting the myriad complaints and recognising that the complaints potentially violate the basic human right to have access to sufficient clean water, the Commission convened an Inquiry. The Investigative Inquiry was convened with the aim to determine whether the water service authorities within the KwaZulu-Natal Province have violated residents’ rights to access clean drinking water as provided for in national legislation as well as in the Constitution, and if so, what interventions are being implemented by the state to resolve and prevent the recurrence of the violations.

The Commission will also utilise the launch of the Inquiry report to announce the South Africa Water Justice Tracker project. The South Africa Water Justice Tracker project is a partnership between the SAHRC and the University of the Witwatersrand which seeks to track the progressive realisation of the right of access to sufficient water in the country. Members of the media are welcome to attend the launch of the Inquiry report. The details of the launch of the Inquiry report are captured below.

Details for the launch are as follows:

Date:     Monday, 18 September 2023
Time:    14:00 - 16:00
Venue: SAHRC Boardroom, 1st Floor, 136 Margaret Mncadi Avenue, Durban

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For further information contact the Commission’s Acting Provincial Manager in KwaZulu Natal, Ms. Pavershree Padayachee on Tel: 031 304 7323, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.