CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — Securing South Africa’s water future demands a radical shift toward innovation, evidence-based research, and robust cross-sector partnerships, according to Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. Addressing the opening of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) 2026 Biennial Conference, the Minister stressed that collaborative technological advancement is the nation’s strongest defense against escalating climate change impacts and deteriorating municipal infrastructure.
Majodina positioned the conference as a premier African platform for water sector evolution, highlighting the limits of isolated efforts. “The increasingly complex challenges confronting the water sector cannot be solved by any single institution acting alone,” she told the assembly.
The landmark gathering, themed “Rethink Amanzi – Securing Our Future,” is taking place from July 22 to 24, 2026, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. It has convened over 2,000 delegates from across Southern Africa, including engineers, scientists, municipal leaders, private sector executives, development partners, and policymakers, all focused on engineering resilient solutions for the continent’s water challenges.
Beyond Traditional Infrastructure
Moving past traditional infrastructure-only fixes, the Minister argued that true water security requires systemic evolution. She praised the historical synergy between her department and WISA, noting that the long-standing collaboration has been instrumental in elevating technical capacity, policy formulation, and professional development across the industry.
However, she cautioned that physical assets alone are not enough. “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,” Majodina explained.
Over the three-day event, delegates are dissecting critical vulnerabilities and opportunities. The extensive agenda covers resilient infrastructure, circular economy models, groundwater development, water reuse, citizen science, municipal performance, and youth leadership.
The Intersection of AI, Research, and Human Capital
A major focal point of the conference is the intersection of academic research and emerging technologies. Hundreds of technical papers are being presented on topics ranging from advanced treatment and emerging contaminants to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and climate adaptation.
Majodina highlighted how AI, machine learning, and smart monitoring are revolutionizing the sector by enhancing predictive maintenance, operational efficiency, and decision-making. However, she was quick to clarify that these digital tools are designed to augment, not replace, human expertise.
To that end, the Minister placed a strong emphasis on human capital, urging significant investment in the next generation of engineers, scientists, and young practitioners to ensure long-term sector sustainability.
“The future depends on generating, applying and sharing knowledge so that research informs policy and improves service delivery at scale,” she stated, adding that “The future of water security will be built through innovation, collaboration and evidence-based policymaking.”
Blended Finance and Regional SADC Cooperation
To fund the massive modernization efforts required, Majodina advocated for blended financing models. By combining public funds, private capital, and development finance, the country can upgrade critical infrastructure while preserving water as a fundamental public good. She called for stronger alliances between government, academia, business, and civil society to mobilize these investments.
The push for water security also extends well beyond South Africa’s borders. Majodina highlighted recent regional milestones, noting that the country recently co-chaired the 44th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Water and Energy. During this summit, member states reaffirmed their dedication to managing shared watercourses and building climate-resilient regional infrastructure. Furthermore, South Africa has proposed the creation of a “SADC Water Week” to institutionalize cross-border knowledge-sharing and innovation.
Measuring True Success
As the conference progresses, Majodina challenged the attendees to move beyond theoretical discussions and forge actionable alliances that will translate into real-world impact.
“The true success of this conference will be measured by partnerships formed, innovations adopted, institutions strengthened and tangible improvements for millions of South Africans,” the Minister concluded.
