Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Deputy Minister Andries Nel says South Africa is ready to collaborate in safeguarding water which is the catalyst for development.

Speaking at the launch of the “International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development” at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters, in New York, recently the minister said the country was committed to multi-lateral, transboundary collaboration to ensure that water was a catalyst for socio-economic development and transformation.

The Deputy Minister added that the South Africa was ready to implement the recommendations of the High Level Panel on Water with particular focus on the Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP).

SDG 6 – Securing water and sanitation for all

The programme is spearheaded by South Africa, Senegal and Mauritius. Its mandate is rooted in the sixth sustainable development goal which includes the sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

“This underscores our shared responsibility to ensure implementation of the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, understanding that they are inter-related and inter-dependent and that SDG 6 is central to them all,” said Deputy Minister Nel.

Significant strides

Nel noted that the county had made significant strides in delivering water to its people.

“That our government has made significant progress in bringing potable water nearer to so many more people than was previously the case, it rates among the most important achievements of democracy in our country,” Nel said.

In light of the UN’s declaration, Deputy Minister Nel called for strengthened efforts by stakeholders and citizens to save water.