The SAHRC released the investigative report on 18 November 2025. The report highlights several systemic service delivery failures in the provision of basic services, including water, sanitation, waste management, and road maintenance and their impact on residents’ constitutional rights across several municipalities in the North West Province.

The Report made several findings against the North West Provincial Government and fourteen (14) municipalities in the North West Province. In the main, the SAHRC found that most of the municipalities are failing to live up to their constitutional and legislative obligations. Consequently, many municipalities are violating several human rights through failing to: ensure the regular supply of clean water; provide sanitation services; address sewage spillages; regularly collect solid waste; supply electricity to residents; address illegal dumping; and maintain roads and stormwater systems.

The SAHRC recognises the critical oversight role played by the Select Committee in fostering the attainment of human rights. In that regard, the SAHRC welcomes the opportunity to brief the Select Committee. The SAHRC is optimistic that the briefing will lead to the establishment of follow-up and report-back mechanisms to ensure that the directives made by the SAHRC in its investigative report are implemented.

The briefing will take place as follows:

• Date:  Tuesday, 17 March 2026
• Time: 10:00 – 13:00
• Venue:         Virtual

You can follow the proceedings on Parliament’s YouTube channel @ParliamentofRSA

Ends

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission