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Government denies banning of boreholes amid public pressure, here is evidence of a law that the State seeks to amend forcing emaSwati to have permits merely for drinking water.

Tuesday, 7th January, 2025

MBABANE:Sicelo Nxumalo, the Acting Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has released a press statement, denying the looming banning of boreholes in the country with an alleged intention to force emaSwati to use the expensive Water Services Corporation.

But this Swaziland News has obtained a copy of the law that Government seeks to amend with an alleged intention to ban emaSwati from owning boreholes, the law in it’s current form, forces citizens to have permits before drinking water or using boreholes.

The Water Act empowers eSwatini Government to limit citizens from abstracting water.

“A person shall not abstract groundwater without a permit having been applied for and obtained from the Board”, reads Section 48 of the Water Act.

This is the same law that Musawenkhosi Mwelase, the Acting Director in the Department of Water Affairs within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy cited during a recent stakeholder engagement meeting.

Mwelase was announcing a looming Government decision to ban all emaSwati from owning boreholes within their homes, the State is seeking to amend this law.

Even though the Acting PS confirmed that, boreholes were discussed during a recent Groundwater National Conference, he vigorously denied these allegations regarding the alleged intention to ban boreholes.

Having said that, the Ministry would like to draw to the attention to the Groundwater National Conference held in October 2024, during which there was no mention of a ban on domestic boreholes.The main focus of the conference was the responsible management and regulation of groundwater resources, which remain critical to our Nation’s water security and sustainable development”, reads the statement in part.


Government denies banning of boreholes amid public pressure, here is evidence of a law that the State seeks to amend forcing emaSwati to have permits merely for drinking water.
Government denies banning of boreholes amid public pressure, here is evidence of a law that the State seeks to amend forcing emaSwati to have permits merely for drinking water.