A new platform designed to transform skills development and foster innovation in the water sector has been launched by the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the EU, Stellenbosch University and several technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.

The Platform of Vocational Excellence in Water Management (PoVE), the first initiative of its kind in Africa, aims to create a long-term impact by addressing skills gaps in the water sector and contributing to innovative, inclusive and sustainable water management practices.

“South Africa faces an ageing workforce in the water sector, and bridging the gap between veteran professionals' institutional knowledge and the vocational training of young entrants remains crucial. The PoVE is a critical initiative to advance sustainable water management in our country,” said EWSETA skills delivery and quality assurance executive Robyn Vilakazi, emphasising the PoVE's transformative potential in equipping South Africans with the skills needed to address pressing water challenges.

Speaking at the launch, jointly hosted by EWSETA and Stellenbosch University at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Vilakazi highlighted lessons from her experiences in the Netherlands, focusing on how successful vocational training models could be adapted to South Africa’s needs.

“From my interactions with EU colleagues, I witnessed how excellence in vocational training nurtures the next generation of leaders in the water sector,” she said.

“It is a privilege to have EWSETA and the EU as key ecosystem partners in vocational education and training. We aim to expand PoVE’s reach within South Africa and partner with regional institutions, such as the Southern African and Central African Water Centres of Excellence, to amplify our impact,” added Stellenbosch University Water Institute manager Manuel Jackson.

EU representative and the Centre for Innovative Water Craftsmanship water programme manager Pieter Hoekstra noted that it was not just about training water professionals, but also about shifting mindsets and encouraging responsible water use at all levels of society.

“From plumbers to civil engineers, everyone needs the knowledge to manage water resources effectively,” he said.

The DWS’s Debbie Boniswa Hene reaffirmed the strategic role of vocational training in achieving sustainable water management and aligning with the National Skills Development Plan 2030, celebrating the progress made towards vocational excellence and reiterating the government’s support for EWSETA’s efforts.

A highlight of the PoVE launch was the Hackathon Challenge, where Masters, PhD and TVET students from the Western Cape joined their counterparts from the Netherlands to devise innovative solutions for real-world water challenges.

Over three days, eight teams worked collaboratively to develop practical ideas aimed at addressing water-related issues, with the winning team receiving bursaries to support their future contributions to the water sector.

The Hackathon, judged by three distinguished professionals, namely the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board’s Nelisiwe Mbatha, EWSETA’s Teslim Mohammed Yusuf and Hoekstra, demonstrated the PoVE’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in the water sector through ideation, problem-solving and collaboration.