A contingent of water and sanitation stakeholders will converge at Gallagher Estate in Midrand from 18 – 19 February to craft lasting solutions to challenges facing the sector to ensure water security and dignified sanitation in the country.

Water and sanitation experts, industry leaders, non-profit organizations, environmentalists, the government in all spheres, water boards, international partners have all responded to the call by Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, to convene a National Water and Sanitation Summit for the benefit of the country.

The call by Minister Mchunu came as a result of provincial working sessions that he undertook upon his assignment to the water and sanitation portfolio, wherein he sought to understand the core challenges that hinder the provision of water and sanitation services.

During his provincial working sessions, Minister Mchunu met with provincial governments, various Water Services Authorities, water boards, stakeholders and he was appraised of several challenges in various provinces.

To this end, the two-day National Water and Sanitation Summit are solution-driven and it is set to draft immediate actions to be taken as far as water and sanitation services provision is concerned.

Various Ministers from other sister departments are expected to attend and participate in various thematic sessions affecting services in the departments they lead. Minister Mchunu has dubbed the Summit as a solution and action-driven and debunked any suggestions that it is bound to be another government talk shop.

“Our people are tired of us talking and making endless promises, they want concrete solutions, they want clean water, they want dignified sanitation from us, and we are constitutionally mandated to provide these basic services to them”, he said.

In addition, he reiterated that government will not work in isolation, the views and inputs from experts and other stakeholders are critical in coming up with an inclusive and comprehensive plan.