By Luzamo Sandlana
At this year’s Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa Conference, TCTA joined other sector institutions for a dialogue focused on long-term water security challenges and the actions needed to address them.
From 9 to 12 November 2025, more than 1,500 delegates gathered at the Emperor’s Palace. Government leaders, water utility executives, researchers, civil society organisations, youth innovators and private sector partners met to consider the state of water and sanitation.
The Dialogue was formally declared open by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, with the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, in support. In her address on 10 November, the Minister stressed the urgency of improving water security and dignified sanitation in all communities. She also noted the importance of collaboration across Africa and the Global South.
“Our commitment is deeply rooted in restoring dignity to our communities,” Minister Majodina said. “We are intensifying our work in the most disadvantaged and underserved areas. Every household, every school and every clinic deserves safe and dependable water. This is not just an aspiration, but a right we are actively realising through investment, partnership and accountable delivery.”
The Deputy President addressed delegates virtually and highlighted the significance of hosting a gathering of this scale. “I have repeatedly emphasised that ‘water is life and sanitation is dignity’,” he said. He noted that this principle guides the country’s long-term development agenda. “This is more than just a slogan; it is the foundation of ecosystems, important for survival and sustenance,”Deputy President Mashatile said. “For our continent, which is rich in natural resources, this resource is crucial to our economy, notably in agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Today, I am particularly pleased with the theme of this dialogue, ‘Towards Sustainable Water and Sanitation Security in Africa’, as it strategically encompasses a pan- African and Global South perspective.”
Welcoming guests during a cocktail event, TCTA Chairman Precious Sibiya described the summit as an important moment for shared learning. She emphasised the role of the Dialogue in supporting policy harmonisation, testing technological solutions for local relevance and strengthening cross-border partnerships. “This event will assist in sharing sustainable solutions. More than just an event, the dialogue offers an opportunity to share ideas and expertise and come up with solutions,” Ms Sibiya added.
The Africa Water and Sanitation Industry Association was officially established in August this year through a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Department of Water and Sanitation. This milestone reflects a shared commitment to deepen collaboration and expand access to clean water and dignified sanitation across South Africa and the continent.
