Pretoria: The Umzinyathi District Water Summit wrapped up on Friday, with local leaders, stakeholders, and communities uniting to forge a cohesive plan for the district’s water future. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa delivered the closing remarks, highlighting the summit’s outcomes and the crucial role of traditional leadership in achieving water sustainability.
According to South African Government News Agency, Hlabisa expressed appreciation to all stakeholders, including government departments, municipalities, civil society, and the private sector, for their active participation and commitment to securing the district’s water future. He emphasized the importance of the Amakhosi, acknowledging their deep-rooted connection to the land and resources, stating that water is not only a resource but a heritage.
The two-day summit, held at Battlefield Country Lodge in Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal, addressed urgent water service delivery challenges across all 61 wards of the Umzinyathi District. The summit’s theme was ‘Securing Umzinyathi District’s Water Future through Good Governance, Sustainable and Resilient Water Infrastructure,’ which guided various discussions and resolutions to shape the region’s water policies.
The gathering affirmed good governance as the cornerstone of effective service delivery, with commitments to conducting skills audits, implementing capacity-building programs, and developing succession plans to ensure continuity and institutional memory. Delegates resolved to finalize the District Water Master Plan and prioritize refurbishing aged infrastructure, with short-term interventions like rainwater harvesting and borehole development complementing long-term strategies to ensure reliable water access for every household in Umzinyathi.
Water conservation and demand management were key discussion points, with concerns expressed over illegal connections and water losses. Hlabisa stressed a proactive approach to curbing wastage, including the enforcement of bylaws, establishment of ward-based water committees, and implementation of awareness campaigns.
Financial sustainability was also a critical focus, with plans to strengthen revenue collection and prioritize debt recovery. Hlabisa highlighted community engagement as a means to reinforce the culture of paying for services and emphasized the necessity for infrastructure refurbishment to maintain revenue streams.
The summit also addressed the importance of road conditions in facilitating effective service delivery, with assurances of collaboration with local municipalities to repair potholes, particularly in areas close to traditional leadership. This, he noted, is not only a gesture of respect but also a practical step to ensure safe access for traditional leadership and the communities they serve.
As the summit concluded, Hlabisa called for urgent action, stating that the resolutions are commitments that demand urgency, collaboration, and accountability. The success of the summit, he emphasized, will be measured not by the quality of discussions but by the speed and integrity of implementation.