Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Deputy Minister David Mahlobo – accompanied by senior officials from the DWS and the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) – conducted a “high-level” visit to Japan, between February 23 and February 27, to strengthen cooperation in water and sanitation.

The visit – which took place in the lead-up to National Water Week, which starts on March 16 – focused on capacity building, skills transfer and sustainable water management solutions. It also built on existing bonds between the two countries and helped advance the Technical Cooperation Agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), reflecting a coordinated approach to supporting local municipalities and driving measurable reform in water management, says the DWS.

In terms of the agreement, ten South African officials will participate in specialised training programmes in Japan every year, over a three-year period, with the aim of producing 30 accredited trainers.

During the visit, the delegation engaged with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to review and strengthen the cooperation agreement, examine Japan’s water governance and licensing systems and explore advanced infrastructure and disaster resilience models.



With South Africa looking to advance the establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency, the delegation engaged the Japan Water Agency to draw lessons from its institutional framework.

The Japanese government’s hands-on experience in navigating complex operational and governance challenges offered a practical perspective to the delegation and helped position the visit as a continuation of ongoing efforts to secure sustainable solutions for South Africa’s water sector.

Through JICA’s support, South Africa has already advanced the development of a comprehensive Non-Revenue Water Training Programme aimed at strengthening the department’s Infrastructure Branch Training Centre in Roodeplaat. The technical cooperation has resulted in the construction of a specialised training yard that simulates real municipal water systems and provides practical learning directly aligned to the operational realities facing municipalities.

Implemented in collaboration with the South African Local Government Association and MISA, the Non-Revenue Water Training Programme is designed by municipalities for municipalities. It prioritises practical skills in pressure management, metering accuracy, data analysis and active leak detection, ensuring that solutions are sustainable and embedded within local institutions.

For Japan, the ongoing partnership highlights its role as a trusted development partner and creates opportunities for innovation exchange and collaboration, while for South Africa, the benefits include strengthened municipal capacity, improved operational systems and a pathway toward measurable reductions in water losses.



“Through strengthened cooperation with Japan, South Africa is taking practical steps to improve service delivery, support municipalities and secure the nation’s water future,” the DWS concluded.