Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) says nearly one-in-five South Africans lack access to safely managed sanitation.

According to the General Household Survey, 71.8% of urban residents have access to safely managed water, but only 36.7% of the rural population do.

The report further states that even though access to safe, sufficient and reliable drinking water and sanitation is a fundamental human right, access remains inequitable.

Acting DDG responsible for population and social statistics at Stats SA Solly Molayi says, “Water, we’re seeing that the number of households that have access to improved water- meaning that a source of water in a dwelling, or in a yard, we are seeing that over time, provinces are also reaching above the 80s, except provinces like your Eastern Cape and Limpopo, which are below the national average. If you overlay the sanitation indicators, you’ll see again, that your Eastern Cape, Limpopo and KZN, those are some of the provinces, that are still struggling when it comes to sanitation.”