The Indaba is a provincial water-sector conference convened to address urgent water and sanitation management issues across Mpumalanga. It gathers municipal leaders, engineers, planners, researchers, and civil society to share best practices and align on implementable solutions. Deputy Minister David Mahlobo will deliver the keynote address and set expectations for collaborative delivery.
While focused on Mpumalanga, the event is also designed to localise outcomes from the National Water & Sanitation Indaba held in March 2025. That national forum agreed on practical resolutions to move the sector from discussion to action resolutions now being taken forward at provincial level.
Mpumalanga Water & Sanitation Indaba Quick Summary (Vertical Table)
Item |
Details |
|---|---|
Event |
Mpumalanga Water & Sanitation Indaba |
Dates & time |
7–8 October 2025, from 08:00 daily |
Venue |
Sasol Recreational Club, Secunda, Mpumalanga |
Keynote |
David Mahlobo, Deputy Minister of Water & Sanitation |
Who’s attending |
Municipal leaders, water experts, policymakers, researchers, academia, and partners from the provincial water sector |
Core purpose |
Tackle provincial water/sanitation challenges and translate five national Indaba resolutions (Mar 2025) into local action plans |
Official links |
gov.za media advisory (event details); dws.gov.za Indaba and documents (Government of South Africa) |
Media enquiries |
Themba Khoza (066 301 6962; khozab@dws.gov.za), Sanku Tsunke (066 299 2915; tsunkes@dws.gov.za) (Government of South Africa) |
The Five National Resolutions to Be Localised in Mpumalanga
In her July 2025 Budget Vote speech, the Minister of Water & Sanitation summarised the five pillars unanimously adopted at the March Indaba. Mpumalanga’s conference will work these into on-the-ground plans for municipalities and partners:
- Increase investment through diversified financing options
- Ensure financial viability of the sector
- Strengthen technical and operational capacity and efficiency
- Build partnerships and water-resilient communities
- Fight criminality and corruption in the sector
(For the full declaration/resolutions the department refers stakeholders to DWS’s Indaba documents.) (dws.gov.za)
Why Mpumalanga and Why Now?
Context matters. Mpumalanga’s dam levels remain high by historical standards, but have been edging downward week on week. The Department of Water & Sanitation’s 1 October 2025 reservoir report shows the provincial average easing from 94.6% to 94.1%, still above the 84.1% recorded a year earlier. District-level patterns (Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande, Nkangala) point to local variability that needs responsive operations and maintenance. The department continues to urge responsible water use and conservation.
This Indaba therefore arrives at a crucial moment: capacity, financing, and governance fixes not just raw water availability are the real levers to sustain reliability, reduce non-revenue water, and improve wastewater performance in municipalities. The national agenda is clear: build capability, close governance and financing gaps, and curb criminality that undermines services.
What Will Happen Over the Two Days?
According to the official advisory, the programme emphasises knowledge sharing and solution exchange among municipalities and experts, with a focus on:
- Infrastructure & Operations: prioritising refurbishment, maintenance, and performance improvement in water and wastewater systems.
- Pollution & Compliance: addressing pollution risks and regulatory requirements to protect rivers and public health.
- Access & Reliability: ensuring communities urban and rural receive consistent potable water and dignified sanitation services.
- Conservation & Demand Management: promoting responsible use across households, business, and institutions.
- Local Development: exploring how improved services drive jobs, growth, and poverty reduction.
Expected Outcomes for Mpumalanga Municipalities
- Action plans aligned to the five national pillars adapted to the province’s realities and municipal baselines.
- Partnership pipelines with water boards, the private sector, research bodies, and communities for delivery support and skills transfer.
- Stronger financial strategies, including debt management, billing improvement, and targeted capital planning to underpin sustainability.
- Anti-corruption focus on syndicates, vandalism, and tanker-related abuses that drive costs and service failures.
How to Engage (Attendance, Contacts, and Official Info)
The Indaba takes place at the Sasol Recreational Club in Secunda, starting 08:00 on 7–8 October 2025. Media and stakeholders can use the department’s official contacts for queries and logistics: Themba Khoza (066 301 6962; and Sanku Tsunke (066 299 2915; Always rely on gov.za and dws.gov.za pages for authoritative updates.
FAQs
1) What is the purpose of the Mpumalanga Indaba?
To translate national water-sector resolutions into concrete provincial and municipal actions, while sharing practical solutions and innovations across stakeholders.
2) Which national resolutions guide this Indaba?
Five pillars from the National Indaba (Mar 2025): financing, financial viability, technical/operational capacity, community partnerships, and anti-corruption.
3) Why host it in Mpumalanga now?
Despite strong overall storage, operational reliability and wastewater performance still need structural fixes. The Indaba’s timing supports municipalities to stabilise services ahead of seasonal shifts.
4) Who will participate?
Municipal leaders, water boards, sector experts, academia, and policy stakeholders in the province.
5) Where can I find official updates and who do I contact?
See gov.za for the media advisory and dws.gov.za for Indaba materials; contact Themba Khoza or Sanku Tsunke for media logistics.
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