Government launches new water debt amnesty campaign

Government has intensified efforts to improve access to water services by rolling out a second phase of a national water debt amnesty campaign.The campaign is aimed at easing the financial burden on consumers and advancing the goal of universal access to safe and affordable water.It builds on the success of the first phase, which was implemented over four months from April to July 2025.During that period, the government granted a 30 per cent debt amnesty to qualifying customers, resulting in a significant reduction of outstanding water debt by P119 million.Billing-related queries were reduced by 47 per cent, an outcome that the Minister of Water and Human Settlements, Onneetse Ramogapi, described as a clear indication that theintervention was effective.The ministry has embarked on a second phase of the debt amnesty campaign, which will run from 8 December 2025 to 28 February 2026.Ramogapi said the continued intervention reflects the government’s commitment to addressing challenges faced by households, businesses and community organisations struggling with accumulated water debt.He stressed that access to water is a fundamental human need rather than a luxury, noting that the campaign aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which calls for universal access to safe and affordable drinking water.The initiative is also consistent with the UDC government’s broader priorities, including reducing water tariffs by 30 per cent and improving water service delivery across the country.Ramogapi explained that the amnesty campaign is designed, among other objectives, to assist customers who have been disconnected due to non-payment to clear their arrears and regain access to water services.As part of the programme, the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) will extend leniency to affected customers and provide support to ensure a smooth transition to smart prepaid water metering systems.The campaign includes a strong customer education component. Consumers will be guided on water account management processes and procedures to improve understanding of billing systems, service delivery standards and customer responsibilities.Eligible beneficiaries of the debt amnesty include domestic customers, business customers with an average monthly bill of less than P2,000, as well as churches, community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations.Ramogapi said the amnesty applies strictly to existing debts accrued from December 2024 and earlier.

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Government launches new water debt amnesty campaign