New water legislation a threat to economy – IRR

The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has warned MPs that the National Water Amendment Bill of 2026 poses risks to agriculture, and the wider economy, which could imperil food security and worsen deprivation.

This warning is contained in the IRR’s submission to the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation.

The IRR recommends that the Bill be scrapped, as many of its provisions are unconstitutional. If enacted, it will not only undermine property rights and the rule of law but damage the economy and harm all South Africans.

Dr Anthea Jeffery, Head of Policy Research at the IRR and author of the submission, warns that the Bill will “further curtail investment, restrict growth, and worsen unemployment and destitution.”

“The harm to the agricultural sector will be particularly severe. The poor will suffer the most, for the farming sector is crucial in sustaining food security, constraining food inflation, and providing jobs (some 960,000 in 2025) to people with often limited skills.”

Jeffery points out that “successful land reform cannot be achieved through the forced redistribution of land and water to people generally lacking the many ingredients vital to success in farming.”

Rather than proceeding with the Bill, says Jeffery, the government should “focus instead on expanding the number of successful commercial farmers of all races”.

“All these farmers need secure property rights to both land and water. It is only with this foundation in place that the various other factors vital to successful farming can be addressed in innovative and constructive ways.

“At the same time, no one should be encouraged to believe that farming is an easy option, for agriculture is an exceptionally high-risk sector – and all the more so in a water-stressed country such as South Africa.”

Read the full submission here.

Media contact: Anthea Jeffery, IRR Head of Policy Research Tel: +27 11 482 7221; Email: ajj@irr.org.za

Media enquiries: Michael Morris, Head of Media Tel: +2766 302 1968 Email: michael@irr.org.za