Tag: South Africa

Strengthening collaboration and promoting inclusion: Blue Deal South Africa in action

In November, Blue Deal South Africa strengthened its partnerships and advanced its commitment to social inclusion through two key initiatives. From tackling water quality challenges in KwaZulu-Natal to empowering women in the water sector, these activities reflect our shared vision for sustainable and inclusive water management.

Strengthening Collaboration in KwaZulu-Natal

Blue Deal’s Msunduzi-uMngeni River Project team focused on deepening collaboration with the local partner, the Pongola-uMzimkulu Catchment Management Agency (PUCMA). Together, they joined a two-day stakeholder meeting of the uMngeni Ecological Infrastructure Partnership (UEIP) in Hillcrest, which included a site visit to the Inanda Dam.

The purpose of this engagement was to connect with partners in person, create space for strategic discussions on catchment management and water resource challenges, and gain a better understanding of issues such as water quality in the Msunduzi River and the spread of invasive species like water hyacinth.

A highlight of the visit was a demonstration by several Amanzi Champions, showcasing how they remove water hyacinths, take measurements, and manage the collected plants afterward.

The Amanzi champions demonstrate the removal of the invasive water hyacinths

Alongside PUCMA, the team also met with the Msunduzi Municipality and visited the renovation site of the Darvill sewer outfall pipes, previously a major source of pollution in the Msunduzi River.

In addition, the working visit included a capacity building programme for young professionals. Blue Deal, together with GreenMatter, WRC, and SANBI, organised a two-day workshop on Project Planning and Proposal Writing at the KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden. This was the third workshop this year, bringing the total number of participants across all sessions to about 75.

Looking ahead, future actions for 2026 were explored with the local partners, including further development of the Catchment Management Strategy, implementation of Early Warning Systems, and expansion of citizen science initiatives. These efforts reaffirm shared commitment to sustainable water management and healthier river systems.

Sisterhood in Water: Empowering Women in the Sector

female empowerment discussion group
At the AWSISA conference in the Western Cape, focus was on sisterhood in water

In another one of Blue Deal South Africa’s projects in the Western Cape, focus was on female empowerment during the AWSISA Conference. Supporting women in the water sector is one of the goals of Blue Deal South Africa, as part of implementing the cross-cutting theme of social inclusion. Last year, a workshop was organised for young women during the WISA conference, where Ms Zanele Bilumupariwa, Head of DWS Western Cape, gave an inspiring speech followed by group discussions on workplace experiences.

In November, we continued this effort at the AWSISA conference. Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, CEO of the Water Research Commission, shared her lessons learnt on the way to the top with young women. The central question was: How can we enhance sisterhood in water so women support each other rather than struggle alone?

The results were promising. Many young women volunteered to set up activities such as monthly webinars. Blue Deal and the World Water Academy from the Netherlands committed to facilitating a digital platform to form a community. In other words: to be continued!

Blue Deal at the REMCO conference in Mozambique

This week, the 8th International REMCO Conference is taking place in Maputo, Mozambique. The event brings together over 150 participants from Mozambique, Eswatini, and South Africa - three countries that share the Incomati–Maputo basin - to strengthen resilience and governance in transboundary water management.

group of people at the tabel attending the REMCO conference
REMCO conference 2025

At the heart of REMCO lies the technical and operational exchange between the three catchment management authorities: 

ARA-Sul IP (Administração Regional de Águas do Sul – Mozambique) 

JRBA-PB (Joint River Basin Authorities Project Board – Eswatini) 

IUCMA (Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency – South Africa) 

Marieke van Nood presents at REMCO
Marieke van Nood presents at the REMCO conference

Together, they collaborate on real-world water management challenges, such as: 

  • Improving flood early warning systems, especially after the flash floods in the Incomati Basin in 2023 
  • Implementing equitable water pricing 
  • Sharing hydrological data and models to improve forecasting and preparedness 
  • Jointly developing cross-border projects that benefit local communities 

Blue Deal’s role 

The Blue Deal partnerships in Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa actively support these authorities on these topics. During the conference, they facilitated knowledge exchange, helped shape discussions and committed to following up on the agreements made. Blue Deal’s Ethiopia Awash partnership also joined the conference, sharing key insights during a discussion on Basin Information Systems. This makes REMCO a powerful regional platform for co-learning, innovation, and inclusive decision-making. 

Spotlight on inclusion 

To support the topic of inclusive decision-making, the first day of the conference centered around women and youth in water management. Climate and water-related challenges often have the greatest impact on vulnerable people and the communities they live in. Tanah Meijers, Focal Point of Social Inclusion within the Blue Deal, emphasised that these individuals should not only be seen as stakeholders in solutions, but should be actively engaged as partners in designing those practical solutions. 

As highlighted by Marieke van Nood, Blue Deal’s Programme Manager during her speech on the final day of the conference: “Together, we make transboundary water management practical and operational. And that is key for a future-proof Incomati – Maputo river basin”. 

Education, engagement and environmental action in Theewaterskloof

In early summer, the Blue Deal Theewaterskloof team carried out a working visit to Grabouw, South Africa, aimed at supporting sustainable solutions in water management, education, and waste processing. The visit was marked by strong collaboration with local partners, focusing on knowledge exchange, relationship building, and practical steps to address shared challenges.

Collaboration in action
One of the key outcomes of the visit was the initiation of a water-focused education programme with local schools in Grabouw. This programme aims to raise awareness among youth about water conservation and environmental stewardship.

Pictured: Blue Deal representatives with local school children in Grabouw

Youth engagement through sport
Another effort focused on the younger generation took place in an informal settlement, also in Grabouw. A football match served as a creative platform to engage young people in conversations about waste, reuse, and clean water. This blend of sport, education, and community building proved to be a powerful tool for outreach and awareness.

Pictured: A football match sparked conversations with young people about waste, re-use and clean water

In parallel, discussions with the Grabouw Water Users Association explored ways to better structure and manage local waste streams. These conversations yielded valuable insights and laid the groundwork for future follow-ups. A knowledge exchange session with WWF South Africa highlighted the critical link between water safety and nature conservation, reinforcing the importance of integrated approaches to environmental management.

The team also observed impactful Citizen Science efforts led by BOCMA, including the involvement of Young Expert (YEP) Jordaan Asefi and two community members in the South African Scoring System (SASS) river health assessments. A Clear River Campaign hands-on clean-up at a tributary of the Palmiet River with Deputy Minister Seitlholo was another noted highlight. These activities are helping to build local capacity and foster community ownership of water resources.

More Blue Deal South Africa news: The Theewaterskloof Blue Deal project is just one of the South Africa Blue Deal projects, and there is much more progress to be shared! For an overview of news from the Msunduzi-uMneni project, Blesbokspruit or Vredefort Dome projects, see the most recent Blue Deal South Africa newsletter.