The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has called for the immediate resignation of Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, following what the party describes as “shocking revelations” made during the minister’s own parliamentary reply this week.
In a fiery statement issued on Wednesday, the MK Party accused the minister of failing South Africans by admitting to long-standing water supply backlogs, corruption in tender allocations, and mismanagement within the department during his responses in Parliament.
“The Minister has confessed with his own words to the rot in his department, yet expects South Africans to continue suffering without accountability,” the MK Party said. “This is not just incompetence; it is a betrayal of the people.”
[MEDIA STATEMENT]: MK PARTY CALLS ON WATER MINISTER TO STEP DOWN FOLLOWING SHOCKING REVELATIONS
DURING THE MINISTER’s OWN PARLIAMENTARY REPLY. pic.twitter.com/UTaDsczPdr— MK Party in Parliament (@MKParliament) September 10, 2025
The development comes at a time when water shortages, dry taps, and infrastructure collapse have sparked protests in several provinces. Opposition parties argue that the minister’s admissions confirm what communities have been experiencing daily: a government unable to provide a basic constitutional right.
Civil society groups have also weighed in, with the South African Water Crisis Coalition calling for urgent intervention. “If the minister cannot deliver clean and reliable water to citizens, then he must step aside for someone who can,” the organisation stated.
The African National Congress (ANC) leadership has yet to issue a formal response to the MK Party’s demand. However, insiders within Parliament suggest that the revelations have intensified debates over accountability within President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet.
Political analysts believe the MK Party is using the moment to strengthen its position as a vocal opposition force. “Water is one of the most pressing service delivery issues in the country. By taking a hard line on the minister, the MK Party is positioning itself as a defender of ordinary citizens,” said Professor Thandi Maseko, a political analyst at Wits University.
For now, the minister remains in office, but pressure is building both inside and outside Parliament. The coming weeks are expected to be critical in determining whether the call for resignation gains wider support across the political spectrum.