Department of Water Affairs

Profile narrative

The Department of Water Affairs, also known by the alias DWA, is a South African government entity. Its name indicates that it is responsible for water affairs within the country. This encompasses oversight of water resources, water supply services, and related regulatory functions. As part of the national administration, it operates under the authority of the South African state. The organisation’s headquarters are located in South Africa, though the specific city is not detailed in the provided material.

The available sources do not disclose specific figures regarding the organisation’s size, such as the total number of employees or the geographic extent of its operations. Consequently, detailed metrics about its reach or operational footprint are not presented here. What is known from a reported incident is that the department maintains a workforce of at least several thousand individuals. In February 2016, a breach exposed personal information of over 5,800 employees and collaborators. This figure provides a lower bound on the organisation’s staffing level.

The Department of Water Affairs is distinguished by its exclusive focus on water-related governance, setting it apart from other governmental bodies that handle different sectors. Its regulatory role includes monitoring water quality, managing allocation of water resources, and ensuring compliance with national water policies. The 2016 incident highlighted both the scale of its personnel data holdings and the potential sensitivity of the information it oversees. Attackers affiliated with the Anonymous hacktivist collective gained administrative access to the department’s website database, exfiltrating names, email addresses, identification numbers, and for some individuals additional details such as phone numbers, birth dates, and job titles. The breach also allowed possible manipulation of backend systems, including project data and critical infrastructure information like water quality measurements from supply stations.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.