Water Infrastructure Agency Amendment Bill Passed by NCOP

Posted 23 February 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Parliament

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has passed the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Ltd Amendment Bill, which now awaits the President’s signature to correct a technical error in the principal Act.

In terms of parliamentary papers dated 24 March 2026, the NCOP has concurred with the Bill previously passed by the National Assembly. The amendment is designed to correct a technical error within the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Ltd Act, No. 24 of 2024. While the majority of the principal statute has been in force since 7 February 2025, the specific provision affected by the error has prevented the full operationalisation of the Agency.

The Amendment Bill was originally tabled in April 2025 and passed by the National Assembly five months later. The NCOP Committee on Co-operative Governance & Public Administration (including traditional affairs, human settlements, water and sanitation) had previously called for written submissions on the Bill by 9 March 2026. The passage of this legislation will allow for the following:

  • The correction of technical drafting errors in the principal statute.
  • The full operationalisation of the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Ltd.
  • The formal transfer and management of national water resources infrastructure.

Click here to view the Parliamentary papers confirming the Bill’s passage.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Monitor the Government Gazette for the President’s assent and the subsequent commencement date to advise on the Agency’s full legal capacity.
  • For your business: Update compliance and regulatory registers to reflect the Agency’s status as the primary entity responsible for national water infrastructure assets.
  • For your clients: Clients engaged in bulk water supply or infrastructure development must prepare for the formal transition of asset management and contracting from the Department to the Agency.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/water-infrastructure-agency-act-end-in-sight-for-technical-error-bill

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