Imagine giant taps left open and pipes leaking while someone still gets paid to fix them — that is what auditors measured: billions of litres and rands lost while millions wait for reliable water.
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s 2023/24 municipal water disclosures quantify roughly R18.9 billion in technical and commercial losses nationally — effectively R52 million per day — alongside tens of millions of people facing unreliable supply. Gauteng municipalities alone shed about R6.9 billion; KwaZulu-Natal R3.45 billion. Fifty-five material irregularities added R1.76 billion in booked financial losses. SIU in 2025 separately said it referred 350 criminal dockets and chased R6.2 billion in civil recoveries linked to water-sector corruption.
Expenditure figures linked to the story: R19 Billion Lost in Water Sector Mismanagement (2023/24)
National non-revenue water (technical + commercial losses) quantified by AGSA for 2023/24 — R18.9 billion headline repeated in May 2025 MFMA release (≈R52m/day).
Approximately R18.9bn — exact figure not confirmed.
Sum of financial losses booked against 55 material irregularities in the water supply and sanitation sector per AGSA 2023/24 consolidated outcomes.
Total tracked: R20.7bn
Water & Sanitation
CriticalR18.9 billion in water lost in 2023/24 — 8.5 million without basic water access
Healthcare
High84% of South Africans depend on the public health system
Food Security
High18 million South Africans receive social grants — the system was targeted by fraud
Employment & Economy
Medium42.4% expanded unemployment — 11 million on less than R777/month
Kickbacks on water tanker and project spend recurring in SIU referrals.
It is a crime to give, offer, receive or accept any kind of reward to make someone do their job dishonestly — whether you are in government or in business.
This story touches 2 Acts of Parliament. These are the rules that were supposed to be followed — by police, prosecutors, ministers, and civil servants. When those rules aren't followed, ordinary people pay the price: crimes go uninvestigated, public money goes missing, and trust breaks down. The Record tracks every step so accountability has a paper trail.
Public Finance Management Act· Act 1 of 1999
Section Section 86
Local government accounting officers must curb fruitless water expenditure — AG flags systemic non-revenue water as governance failure.
Accounting officers must prevent waste and losses; personal liability can follow where duties are breached.
Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act· Act 12 of 2004
Section Section 3
Kickbacks on water tanker and project spend recurring in SIU referrals.
It is a crime to give, offer, receive or accept any kind of reward to make someone do their job dishonestly — whether you are in government or in business.
This story touches 2 Acts of Parliament. These are the rules that were supposed to be followed — by police, prosecutors, ministers, and civil servants. When those rules aren't followed, ordinary people pay the price: crimes go uninvestigated, public money goes missing, and trust breaks down. The Record tracks every step so accountability has a paper trail.