The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) met with key stakeholders this Women’s Month to discuss the importance of women being developers, producers and implementers of products within the sanitation and hygiene industry.

Speaking at the event Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane noted that the dialogue “seeks to reflect on the progress made thus far and to engage on the opportunities presented by the DWS’ new Sanitation Policy.” The policy is meant to mobilise society along with business and other water sector partners towards advocacy, innovation, health and hygiene in the sanitation space.

She added that it should also help South Africa deal with the realities of water scarcity, while also making citizens realise that it is “not always about flushing.”

The minister emphasised the importance of partnerships in creating economic opportunities for women to provide sanitation services including sanitary wear. “We need to find an opportunity through the sanitation policy and the Black Broad Based Economic Empowerment on how we can work with other key stakeholders to discover innovative solutions, which will assist us fight unemployment, inequality and poverty,” she said.

Mokonyane said this effort at transformation requires a government that embraces the new solutions, develops policies and common standards to advance this culture and also realises the need to achieve the goals set out on the National Development Plan (NDP).

She noted that, in line with the NDP’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, government has achieved delivery of access to basic sanitation services to over 80% of citizens and is committed to ensure universal access by 2030.