DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal municipalities may be placed under administration for not providing water.
The Human Rights Commission is warning them to fix and maintain water infrastructure.
It says it seems that local councils have forgotten that water is a basic right.
WATCH: SA’s water crisis | SAHRC warns KZN to fix water supply infrastructure
The commission says there are serious consequences for violating human rights.
"Part of the issue is vandalising of infrastructure and that has contributed to the water and sanitation problem," said the commission's Chris Nissen.
"This is not just in KZN, but throughout the country. We have water disconnected and sewage all over.
"Government needs to know that water is indeed a right."