The City of Cape Town wants to hear your innovative ideas on how to help address sanitation challenges that are affecting our inland water quality such as rivers and vleis. Challenges that have been identified are: illegal occupation of servitudes and stormwater infrastructure, particularly retention ponds; theft and vandalism and diffuse pollution from informal settlements. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, 8 March.
The City is calling for these submissions leading up to its first Water and Sanitation Innovation Indaba where feasible and innovative ways will be discussed to help prevent pollution in our waterways.
The indaba will be held on Wednesday 22 March and Thursday 23 March. More details will be made available to those who submit ideas and register to attend.
'We have received 18 submissions thus far. We want to encourage more stakeholders to be a part of this initiative to help address pollution challenges and submit their proposals in preparation for the Innovation Indaba event in March.
'Stakeholders have the opportunity to submit their ideas on the City's online Collaboration Platform, which is only a click away. For those who have challenges with an online submission, please email Water.Events@capetown.gov.za for a hardcopy of the form.
'Overall, the Water and Sanitation Innovation Indaba aligns with the City's Water Strategy and is helping Cape Town become Africa's prime investment location. The City has committed to investing over R11 billion into the water and sanitation systems, positioning Cape Town as South Africa's largest infrastructure investment centre,' said Councillor Siseko Mbandezi, the City's Acting Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
Purpose of the indaba
This indaba will provide a platform for innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, residents, and businesses to submit ideas to help solve key challenges affecting our inland ambient water quality of rivers, vleis, waterways, and wetlands. City leaders unpacked key current challenges relating to aspects of wastewater reticulation and treatment (sanitation services), theft/vandalism, informality, and sources of pollution.
Participants in the Innovation Indaba will showcase their feasible and applicable ideas and solutions for these specific challenges.
'The goal is to connect interested parties with relevant City officials and learn how we can all work together to benefit our communities and waterways.
'All of us - the City and the public included - have a role to play in tackling water pollution and improving our inland water quality. It's on this premise that we are encouraging organisations who want to be part of the conversation and have innovative sanitation-related ideas to see what the upcoming Innovation Indaba is all about and how they can be a part of it. The City is serious about tackling water pollution so we want to hear from others who can add their expertise and feasible ideas to this valuable conversation,' said Councillor Mbandezi.
About the indaba
Submit your ideas via the online portal until 8 March 2023: Water and Sanitation Innovation Indaba
The presentations and video recording of the briefing event is on the online portal, and also here: https://youtu.be/Nl8Cqvrf8co
Please note - this event will not result in any guaranteed work with or for the City or any funding. The goal is to connect interested parties with relevant City officials and to learn how the City can improve and work alongside those who are interested for everyone's benefit.
Email Water.Events@capetown.gov.za for more information, to register to attend the Innovation Indaba or request a hardcopy of the submission form.
Scan the QR Code below to access the Collaboration Platform online portal
Source: City Of Cape Town