South Africa has developed, arguably, the most effective operational structure on the continent for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal six (SDG6) on water and sanitation, says Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Dikeledi Magadzi.

he says that some of the tangible progresses made towards attaining SDGs include the implementation of a National Groundwater Monitoring Programme, which is the feeder to the assessment of SDG targets and indicators for groundwater quality.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) recognises the significance of water conservation and demand management and its contribution towards water-use efficiency. By minimising nonrevenue water such as high leaks, it removes the burden and capital expenditure of new infrastructure requirements,” she adds.

“The National Water and Sanitation Master Plan and the National Water Resource Strategy are logical designs that include experts that cover all the different disciplines required to achieve Target and Indicator objectives and implemented with a systematic approach that identifies respective gaps and offers interventions to closing those gaps,” she continues, highlighting that through these designs, a Sanitation Technology Technical Coordination Committee was established to ensure a coordinated, facilitated and standardised process for sanitation technology uptake.

In addition, a draft Sanitation Technology Uptake Protocol has been developed to guide innovators and the sector on the standard process for assessing and validating of new technologies.

Further highlights include the establishment of a Water Partnerships Office in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the South African Local Government Association.

“The office aims to support municipalities with financial structuring, feasibility studies and contracting with the private sector, to harness private-sector skills and commercial and blended finance for public–private participations for water and sanitation services.”