Cape town: The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions in South Africa (AWSISA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), marking a significant step towards stronger collaboration in advancing water security and sustainable sanitation solutions. Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina and AWSISA Chairperson Ramateu Monyokolo officially signed the agreement on the sidelines of the African Union-Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) Water Investment Summit, held in Cape Town. According to South African Government News Agency, the agreement cements a shared commitment to unlock investment, drive innovation, and expand access to clean water and dignified sanitation for communities across South Africa and beyond. It establishes a framework for cooperation that will see DWS and AWSISA work together to align strategies, programmes, and plans across the sector; create platforms for joint engagement on policy development, legislative reviews, and sector reforms; and facilitate research, data sharing, and innovation to address pressing water and sanitation challenges. The partnership will also promote leadership development, governance improvements, and targeted capacity-building initiatives to fast-track service delivery. In addition, the parties will collaborate on advocacy and public awareness campaigns, and co-host summits, workshops, and initiatives focused on infrastructure delivery, climate resilience, and transformation. Majodina stated that the agreement is more than a symbolic gesture, but a practical and urgent commitment to work side-by-side in solving South Africa's water and sanitation challenges. She emphasized that access to clean water and proper sanitation is a basic human right and a cornerstone of public health, dignity, and economic development. By pooling their expertise, resources, and influence, they aim to accelerate the pace of change, address infrastructure backlogs, build institutional capacity, and introduce innovative so lutions that respond to community realities. The collaboration also reinforces South Africa's leadership in advancing regional and global water agendas, while fostering knowledge-sharing and transformation within the sector.