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The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has adopted the motion of desirability on the National Water Amendment Bill, paving the way for the Bill to proceed through the next stages of the parliamentary legislation-making process.
 
The committee's decision follows its meeting of 19 May 2026, during which consideration of the motion was deferred to allow committee members additional time for engagement and a deeper analysis of the proposed amendments. Following these deliberations, the majority of the committee agreed that the Bill is necessary and warrants further parliamentary scrutiny, including extensive public participation, to determine whether its provisions can effectively transform the water value chain and improve access to water resources.
 
"The committee, in its majority, is of the view on principle that the Bill has the potential to transform access to water and unlock the socio-economic potential of the country, particularly for previously disadvantaged individuals," said the committee Chairperson, Mr Leon Basson.
 
A motion of desirability is a preliminary parliamentary process through which a committee determines whether it accepts the principle, objectives and necessity of a proposed Bill before proceeding to detailed clause-by-clause consideration. The adoption of the motion does not signify approval of the Bill in its current form but rather confirms that the committee believes the proposed legislation merits further consideration and public engagement.
 
During deliberations, committee members broadly agreed that transformation within the water sector remains an important national imperative. The committee expressed the view that a thorough interrogation of the Bill could assist in developing legislation capable of advancing transformation while broadening equitable access to raw water resources.
 
At the same time, committee members raised concerns about the lack of sufficient clarity on the potential impact of the Bill on downstream sectors, such as agriculture and mining. These sectors remain significant contributors to employment creation, economic growth and South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP). Members emphasised that any reforms to water allocation must strike the appropriate balance between advancing transformation and maintaining investment certainty, while preserving water's role as a key enabler of socio-economic development.
 
Despite these concerns, the prevailing view was that adopting the motion of desirability would create the opportunity for further engagement, evidence gathering and detailed scrutiny to enable the committee to make an informed judgement on the final form of the legislation.
 
With the motion of desirability now adopted, the National Water Amendment Bill will proceed through the normal parliamentary legislative process. This process includes comprehensive public participation, as required by Section 59 of the Constitution, to ensure that interested stakeholders and members of the public have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the Bill before Parliament reaches a final decision.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the chairperson  of the portfolio committee on Water and Sanitation, Leon Basson