OC CHAIR’S Message

Let’s turn the tide together

The WISA 2024 Conference is at our doorsteps and aims to bring together water institutions and professionals to discuss and showcase how to improve our water systems. By Mlu Mnguni

Atheoretical overview of the structure of the South African water sector may give us rose-tinted glasses:

• The Energy and Water Sector Education Training Authority (EWSETA) and its funding model

• The academic institutions that provide a continuous output of professionals (including their international rankings)

• The National Treasury’s graduate development programme

• The research institutions and the existing memorandum of agreements with Water Service Authorities and Water Service Providers

• The catchment management agencies and catchment management forums

• The private-public partnership project delivery models

The South African water sector looks like a model arrangement that a number of countries could copy. But, looks can be deceiving. You don’t need to be a water professional to realise the sector’s shortcomings.

There has been a regression in overall water systems performance as noted by the recent Blue and Green Drop performance scores and the involvement of the South African Human Rights Commission in water sector challenges further highlights what every South African endures daily.

It is for these reasons that the theme for the WISA2024 conference is “Turn the Tide.” This acknowledges the challenges the sector faces and that the water sector needs its institutions and professionals to actively shape the future of water and sanitation in South Africa. Rather than abandoning ship, we need to heed the call to action, we need to turn the tide.

The conference's subthemes show an understanding that there are many moving parts and focus on specific areas necessary for turning the tide. They present a further plea to improve water governance; and service delivery; leverage partnerships, technology and innovation; build resiliency and optimise our water and project delivery systems.