Tshwane tackles water and sanitation challenges with new partnerships
City of Tshwane is taking steps to tackle its water and sanitation challenges by formalising partnerships with key stakeholders.
The City of Tshwane is taking significant steps to tackle its water and sanitation challenges by formalising partnerships with key stakeholders.
Among these partners, the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is playing a pivotal role, offering both regulatory oversight and technical and financial resources to address issues such as the Hennops River pollution, the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works, and staffing shortages.
COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT SIGNED BY WATER AND SANITATION
On Monday, Tshwane City Manager Johann Mettler and Deputy Director-General for Water and Sanitation Services Dr. Risimati Mathye signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Tshwane House.
Furthermore, this agreement outlines a collaboration on various strategic areas, including infrastructure planning, water resource management, and capacity building for municipal officials. Additionally, the MoU aims to leverage the strengths of both entities to develop effective solutions for the city’s pressing water and sanitation issues.
“We are pleased by the will and zeal shown by the city in ensuring collaborative efforts,” said Mathye.
“Addressing our major water challenges requires a joint effort between the city and key water stakeholders, with the DWS being a key player.”
ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING
A flagship engineering candidacy development program is in advanced stages of discussion. Additionally, this initiative will involve the secondment of candidate engineers and professional engineers to Tshwane for three years.
The DWS will provide free mentorship through its database of mentors to help these engineers obtain professional registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Also, this program is expected to enhance the city’s compliance with new ECSA Identification of Engineering Work Regulations.
The training of a team of engineers under the DWS has already begun. This collaboration is crucial, especially on the water and sanitation side, to address the city’s long-standing water issues, which are often linked to aging infrastructure and maintenance problems at water treatment plants.
STRATEGIC AREAS OF FOCUS
The MoU outlines several key areas of collaboration:
- Water resource planning and infrastructure solutions aligned with Tshwane’s Climate Action Plan.
- Infrastructure planning and development to improve service delivery.
- Joint enforcement programs to prevent water pollution.
- Exploration of alternative water and sanitation technologies.
- Education and awareness campaigns.
- Benchmarking programs like Green Drop, Blue Drop, and No Drop.
Moreover, these initiatives align with the Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to provide clean water and sanitation for all.
The partnership also supports the Intergovernmental Relations Act, which encourages collaborative efforts across all government spheres to enhance service provision and societal development.