A partnership formed earlier this year between prepared-water provider MANZI Water and technology- enabled refilling store SKUBU resulted in the launch of an initiative to alleviate the impact of poor water infrastructure across parts of Southern Africa.

The initiative offers a consistent, affordable water-on-tap option to desperate or under- serviced communities, says MANZI Water CEO Alfred Challis.

Under the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund, SKUBU was launched in June in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, by dynamic technology startup Sonke, in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

“By introducing automated water refill stations to community centres, operated by independent licensees embedded in their communities, we are not replacing water infrastructure, but alleviating the lack thereof,” adds Challis.

The issue of potable water availability is compounded by public-sector water infrastructure projects taking several decades to deliver, while short-term fixes rarely have their intended impact.

“We are challenging the idea that basic services should remain out of reach until ‘the big fix’ arrives,” he asserts.

MANZI Water and SKUBU will continue to refine their delivery model – despite it being a new model – by integrating SKUBU’s refill systems and traceability tools, in addition to using Internet-of-Things-(IoT-) enabled technology to manage consumption patterns and water quality in real time.

“Since forming the partnership, we have aligned our operations to mirror SKUBU’s ability to deliver traceable and refillable goods across diverse regions,” adds Challis.

Besides potable water refilling, SKUBU offers refills of other items, such as oil, maize meal and cleaning products using stock transparency and consistent pricing, while MANZI Water outlets have adopted a similar mindset with potable water supply.

MANZI Water aims to reduce disposable packaging in areas where affordability and reliability matter most, says Challis, adding that the company is building towards full traceability for every refill and a standard price- per-litre across refill sizes. 

Plans for the Future

MANZI Water plans to expand across Southern Africa with refill-based delivery of water and essential goods.

“This creates more opportunities through our licensing model and strengthens communities with reliable infrastructure, so our mission of providing safe, clean drinking water can scale with us,” says Challis.

He adds that the partnership with SKUBU represents a shift in how the company thinks about retail, water access and environmental sustainability.

MANZI Water adds reach and entrepreneurship, while SKUBU offers technology and a packaging philosophy that reduces waste, with refill and economics, referred to as “refillomics”, tying these elements together.

Refillomics is a technology that enables clients to take only what they need, reuse containers responsibly and pay a standard price per litre across refill sizes, which “protects household budgets and improves access”.

“Together, we are creating a more equitable system that meets real needs in a way that is affordable, transparent and ready for the future,” he enthuses.

MANZI Water has undertaken to manage several practical challenges encountered during the initial roll-out process, including keeping reused containers clean and safe, maintaining connectivity and uptime for IoT systems, and ensuring fair pricing across different refill volumes.

In conjunction, the SKUBU model addresses many of these needs, and MANZI Water builds on that foundation with training for licensees on hygiene and container safety using routine inspections, remote monitoring and technical support.

“Power reliability is another challenge in loadshedding areas, and we invest in solar and backup systems, so water access continues without interruption.”

Challis notes that as refillomics advances, MANZI Water anticipates obtaining more robust data on consumption and quality, which will inform maintenance and investment decisions.

He stresses that a firm working relationship with government entities such as the CSIR and Sonke, remains essential, and MANZI’s work with SKUBU shows what is possible when private innovation receives strategic support.

“The CSIR and other major partners in the retail and sustainability sectors helped bring the model to life, and similar support can strengthen water- access initiatives.”

Traceability of stock and standardised prices are made possible with refillomics, which makes oversight simpler and more transparent, as “this creates broader access without unsustainable pressure on municipalities, and it advances our shared mission of safe, clean drinking water”, concludes Challis.