Government’s success in transforming the water sector will rely heavily upon collaboration. This is the view of Minister of Water and Sanitation Gugile Nkwinti.

Speaking at a Ministerial Interactive Session on the transformation of the water sector last week, the minister said government was committed to collaborative efforts to lead the transformation of the water sector especially as the department prepares to launch the Phakisa process for Water and Sanitation.

“My role here today is to actively interact, listen and share ideas on how to move the sector forward.  As a department, we are here to facilitate this collaborative transformation process and  we can only be successful if we work together, the session is also meant to find input towards the Phakisa Process of the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, and hear of experiences of the sector on services received”, Nkwinti explained.

Phakisa for Water and Sanitation

Turning to the Phakisa on Water and Sanitation, Deputy Director-General Trevor Balzer, said the process would see sector partners agree on concrete actions, budgets and time frames necessary to implement the master plan and ensure a water-secure future for the country.

“The Phakisa for Water and Sanitation is a game-changer for the department and the sector as a whole,” he said. He added that the department intended to mobilise the sector to undertake the implementation of the Phakisa by March 2019.

Maintenance of infrastructure

Deputy Minister Andries Nel, of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), was also in attendance and applauded the minister for initiating and leading the session with the water sector, he also highlighted the importance of maintenance.

“Maintaining infrastructure is critical, as well as the attraction of private sector investment in the water and local government sectors,” he said.