JOHANNESBURG, April 30 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday described the country's water supply challenges as a "crisis," saying the issue would receive significant attention at an Extended Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) meeting.
Addressing the meeting in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said the gathering aimed to find solutions to water and other challenges facing different spheres of government, particularly at the municipal level.
He said instability in governance and poor revenue collection were among the factors contributing to problems in municipalities.
"This results in poor service delivery. Water and electricity disruptions are common. Roads and other infrastructure are not maintained. It is ordinary South Africans who bear the costs of this," he said.
The meeting was attended by ministers, premiers, mayors, and municipal managers. The PCC is aimed at strengthening coordination among the three spheres of government and improving service delivery.
Ramaphosa said the completion of the new White Paper on Local Government would be important in addressing these challenges.
"Among the tasks we need to focus on is to unblock infrastructure. Energy, water, roads, and public transport form the foundation on which economic growth and social development are built," he said.
Ramaphosa added that just as the government had been able to address the electricity crisis, it would also be able to tackle the water crisis and other remaining challenges.
