Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening global partnerships on water security.
Majodina was speaking at a bilateral meeting with
the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President, Lok Bahadur Thapa, on Tuesday.The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, where South Africa highlighted its efforts to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). The goal seeks to ensure universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030, while strengthening partnerships that will support investment, innovation and collaborative solutions to the country's water challenges.
Majodina told Thapa that water security remains a strategic national priority. She outlined government's interventions to address ongoing water supply challenges.
South Africa has established the National Water Crisis Committee (WATERCOM), chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to coordinate efforts to tackle persistent water supply disruptions, ageing infrastructure and service delivery challenges.
The committee brings together all spheres of government to fast-track interventions, remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and mobilise resources to municipalities experiencing water crises.
Majodina said the establishment of WATERCOM demonstrates South Africa's political commitment to accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and ensuring that water security remains central to the country's economic growth, social development and climate resilience agenda.
"Water is a cross-cutting development issue that impacts every aspect of society. Our government's decision to elevate water governance to Presidential level reflects the importance we attach to ensuring sustainable water security for all South Africans, while accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals," the Minister said.
The Minister said that while South Africa has sufficient bulk water resources, key challenges remain, including ageing infrastructure, non-revenue water, rapid population growth and increasing demand for reliable water services.
She emphasised that addressing these challenges require sustained investment, innovation, coordinated leadership and strengthened international cooperation.
Thapa welcomed South Africa's active participation in the High-Level Political Forum and commended the country's growing contribution to global discussions on water security and sustainable development. He acknowledged South Africa's contribution to multilateral cooperation and its role in promoting practical solutions to achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Thapa also encouraged South Africa to participate in the next cycle of Voluntary National Reviews, saying the country's experience and leadership could contribute to advancing implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Majodina welcomed the recommendation and committed to convey it to government as part of South Africa's continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and global cooperation.
She highlighted South Africa’s interventions aimed at expanding access to water in underserved communities through groundwater development and borehole projects, while also sharing the country's commitment to innovation, including collaboration with African partners on desalination technologies and sustainable water infrastructure.
The Minister further called for greater participation by women and young people in global water governance, noting that women remain disproportionately affected by inadequate access to water and sanitation and that youth should play a greater role in shaping sustainable water solutions.
Concluding the engagement, both leaders reaffirmed that access to universal access to safe water and sanitation remains central to achieving sustainable development and improving quality of life.
The meeting further strengthened South Africa's partnership with ECOSOC and reinforced the country's determination to mobilise global cooperation, investment and innovation to accelerate the delivery of SDG 6 and the broader Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. – SAnews.gov.za
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