In 2012 the Supreme Court of Appeal and the North Gauteng High Court delivered two judgments regarding the functioning of the Water Tribunal. These judgments were handed down subsequent to the effective disbandment of the Water Tribunal at the end of August 2012 when the tenure of its deputy chairperson and members expired.(1) The minister of water and environmental affairs failed to appoint a new panel as laid down in the National Water Act (36/1998); consequently, there has been no functioning Water Tribunal since that time.

In 2012 the Supreme Court of Appeal and the North Gauteng High Court delivered two judgments regarding the functioning of the Water Tribunal.