Sandton, Gauteng – Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has called on the South African National Committee on Large Dams (SANCOLD) to significantly contribute to shaping water and sanitation policy. This appeal was made at the opening of SANCOLD’s three-day annual conference in Sandton, Gauteng, on Wednesday.

According to South African Government News Agency, the department views all organized formations, including SANCOLD, as crucial partners in the water and sanitation sector. The Minister highlighted the need for ongoing engagement with the committee to gather insights that could elevate the sector, ensuring universal and consistent water supply. He emphasized the growing demand for water and the necessity of building and upgrading infrastructure to meet the needs of an expanding population, calling for collaborations with private sectors and organizations like SANCOLD.

Mchunu expressed anticipation for innovative ideas from the conference, scheduled to conclude on Friday. He stated the department’s willingness to discuss the outcomes and integrate them into sectoral advancement. The Minister stressed the department’s strategy to develop, protect, and maintain water resources, aiming for world-class operation and management of water resource infrastructure in line with international standards.

The Minister also addressed South Africa’s challenges as a water-scarce country, with a mean annual precipitation significantly lower than the global average. He noted that approximately half of the water supply supports the industrial and agricultural sectors, underscoring the need for dams to stabilize water supply in the face of climatic variability.

However, Mchunu cautioned against relying solely on dam construction, advocating for alternative water sources and responsible water usage to prevent wastage. The conference, themed “Dams – A Critical Resource in Present Time,” is focusing on various topics including the design and construction of new dams, dam rehabilitation, emergency management, public safety, decommissioning of dams, water retention, flood control, and dam safety and risk management.

SANCOLD’s mission, as outlined at the conference, is to promote the advancement of dam-related sciences and practices in South Africa, aiming for safe, financially sound, ecologically, and socially sustainable development and management of dams.