By Giovanna Gerbi

CAPE TOWN – Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa on Thursday said she was determined to ensure South Africa’s water resources were secured for the future by investing in infrastructure.

Eyewitness News spoke to the minister about the country’s water resources ahead of her launching a water saving project called “No Drop”.

She was interacting with private and government roleplayers at the World Economic Forum on Africa to discuss water security for the continent.

Molewa expressed concern too much water was lost due to leaks.

“If you continuously get leakages of about 30 percent, there are provinces where you have about 50 percent, if that continues like that and the trend becomes worse then we’ll be in serious trouble.”

In March, the department revealed that billions of rands were needed to plug the country’s ageing and leaking water supply systems.

South Africa is a dry country with limited water resources.

It has an average annual rainfall of about 464mm, compared to a world average of about 860mm.

According to experts, South Africa could face water shortages by 2020.