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This partnership falls under the auspices of the Blue Deal South Africa Programme The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Dutch Water Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to improving water management in South Africa through the Blue Deal South Africa Programme. At a steering committee meeting held in Pretoria on Friday, the two parties reviewed ongoing projects, discussed challenges and mapped out future initiatives. A key focus of the discussions was the Crocodile River Revitalisation Action Plan. Water management projects to combat pollution The Crocodile River, a vital water source, faces pollution from multiple sources. The plan aims to enhance municipal wastewater management systems, thereby improving water quality and ensuring sustainable access to clean water. “The Crocodile River faces threats of pollution from agriculture, industry and municipalities. The performance of the wastewater treatment plants in the area is inadequate. “The challenge is to improve the operation of the municipal wastewater management systems to ensure better water quality in the river,” the Department said in a statement. Another major initiative under review was the Theewaterskloof Project Non-Sewer Sanitation pilot project, which seeks to reduce pollution through improved sanitation and solid waste management. The project employs innovative non-sewered sanitation solutions and promotes the circular economy, addressing critical environmental and public health concerns in the region. “The objective of the Theewaterskloof project is to reduce pollution by improving sanitation and solid waste management through innovative solutions, such as non-sewered sanitation and harnessing the circular economy. “General discussions covered the status of ongoing projects, a recap of 2024 Blue Deal activities, the outlook for the 2025 projects, and developments regarding international collaborations,” the department said. Partnership crucial for water management protocols in South Africa DWS Director of International Relations, Albert Mmbidi, emphasised the importance of the gathering. “Today was an important day in the history of the Blue Deal Programme. As a team, we managed to review the progress that the project has already made, the challenges, and we proposed solutions to the issues raised. We are confident that out of the solutions we have proposed, the programme will be able to run efficiently and strengthen the relationship between the two countries.” The Blue Deal South Africa Programme is a collaboration between the South African and Dutch governments aimed at exchanging knowledge and expertise in water management. The partnership seeks to support national, regional and local organisations in ensuring clean and sufficient water supply through sustainable initiatives. “This Blue Deal Programme is a collaboration between the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Netherlands to support water management by exchanging knowledge and experiences, assisting national, regional and local organisations and cooperating with key stakeholders. “The Blue Deal South Africa Programme will specifically contribute to clean and sufficient water,” the department said in a statement. |
