Water foundation strong, task ahead to strengthen, accelerate reform, says DWS

South Africa’s water challenges are vast, systemic and interconnected, and the sector is at a defining moment; however, there is a strong foundation to work from, participants in a Strategic Water Partners Network water stewardship working group meeting heard on Tuesday. Discussing the sector, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) intergovernmental relations, sector transformation and provincial governance chief director Petunia Ramunenyiwa outlined the importance of South Africa’s water sector. “Water is not simply a resource. It is the foundation of our public health system, our economy, our food production, our energy generation and our environmental sustainability. Without water security, there can be no economic security.”