Desalination is extremely expensive and not worth it. It also creates an ecological imbalance by throwing the brine back into the sea and the salt levels killing marine life, which affects fishing industries. More efficient rain water harvesting is most effective. https://twitter.com/Sentletse/status/1307350407207956481

Also better regulation of river water and the construction (and maintenance) of dams that can respond to changing rainfall patterns.

Cape Town tried desalination. The billion rand investment went in flames. None of those things work. The water crisis is largely about poor water management of the current water resources. We do not need to 'create' new water through desalination. We can manage what we have.

Even the perennial water crisis in Qwa-Qwa and Giyani have little to do with water shortages. It's poor water management. Both those areas are not water scarce, especially Qwa Qwa which actually receives a great deal of rain.

I agree we are a water scarce country in general but we have water problems even where we shouldn't like in Qwa-Qwa. With better management and conservation we can meet our water needs. Desalination is indulgent given our means and has adverse effects on the environment.