CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — Ensuring long-term South Africa water security requires a fundamental pivot toward technological innovation and unified partnerships, according to Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. Speaking at the opening of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) Biennial Conference, the Minister outlined a comprehensive strategy to combat the compounding threats of climate change, aging municipal infrastructure, and surging regional water demand.
The three-day event, running from July 22 to 24, 2026, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, operates under the guiding theme “Rethink Amanzi – Securing Our Future.” The summit has drawn a massive crowd of over 2,000 attendees. This diverse group of scientists, engineers, policymakers, municipal officials, private sector leaders, and development partners from across Southern Africa is tasked with engineering viable solutions for the continent’s most pressing hydration challenges.
A New Blueprint for Water Governance
Majodina emphasized that the WISA platform is indispensable for driving the research and collaboration needed to modernize the sector. Highlighting the historical synergy between her department and the institute, she noted that their enduring partnership has been a catalyst for policy advancement, technical capacity building, and professional growth.
However, she warned against siloed thinking in the face of modern crises. “The increasingly complex challenges confronting the water sector cannot be solved by any single institution acting alone,” Majodina stated.
She stressed that physical infrastructure investments must be matched by systemic reforms to truly protect the nation’s resources. “It will demand new forms of leadership, new governance models, new financing mechanisms, new technologies and, perhaps most importantly, a renewed commitment to collective action.”
Tech, AI, and the Next Generation
Over the course of the conference, delegates are diving deep into a robust agenda. Key discussion tracks include resilient infrastructure, circular economy frameworks, groundwater expansion, water reuse, digital integration, and municipal performance. The program also highlights critical modern themes like citizen science, youth leadership, and water governance accountability.
Research is positioned as the bedrock of this transition. Majodina pointed out that hundreds of technical papers are being showcased, tackling subjects such as advanced treatment protocols, emerging contaminants, climate adaptation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“The future depends on generating, applying and sharing knowledge so that research informs policy and improves service delivery at scale,” she explained, adding that “The future of water security will be built through innovation, collaboration and evidence-based policymaking.”
A major highlight of the technical presentations is the role of digital transformation. Majodina noted that machine learning, AI, and smart monitoring networks are radically improving decision-making, operational efficiency, and predictive maintenance across water systems. Crucially, she clarified that these digital advancements are meant to empower, not replace, the human workforce.
Consequently, the Minister championed the development of young talent. She argued that investing in the next wave of researchers, scientists, engineers, and young practitioners is non-negotiable for the sector’s enduring sustainability.
Funding the Future and Regional SADC Leadership
To actualize these visions, massive capital is required. Majodina called for robust alliances across government, civil society, academia, and the private sector. She specifically advocated for blended financing models—merging public, private, and development funds—to upgrade infrastructure without compromising water’s status as a public good.
The vision also extends across borders. Majodina highlighted South Africa’s recent role in co-chairing the 44th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Water and Energy. There, regional leaders solidified their pledge to jointly manage shared watercourses and build climate-resilient infrastructure. To further this momentum, South Africa has officially proposed the launch of a “SADC Water Week” to foster cross-border innovation and knowledge exchange.
As the Cape Town summit unfolds, the Minister left the delegates with a clear mandate to translate dialogue into measurable outcomes.
“The true success of this conference will be measured by partnerships formed, innovations adopted, institutions strengthened and tangible improvements for millions of South Africans,” Majodina concluded.
