Now that the Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA) conference is upon us, it’s an important moment to reflect upon our progress in establishing the additional catchment management agencies (CMAs).

Last year, former Minister Senzo Mchunu launched four new CMAs (Vaal-Orange, Pongola-Umzimkhulu, Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma, and Limpopo-Olifants) that will work alongside the existing Breede-Olifants and Inkomati-Usuthu CMAs.

CMAs are responsible for the planning, implementation and management of water resources. Secondly, they are tasked with coordinating the water-related activities of other water management institutions and water users within Water Management Areas (WMAs). CMAs are governed by Governing Boards (GBs) that are established by the Minister. The GB of a CMA must represent all of the stakeholders affected by water resource activities within the WMA, including local government.

Considering that water management spans both national and local government responsibilities, how effectively have powers and functions been transferred from National Government to CMAs? This is particularly relevant given CMAs’ mandates to guide water resource management, develop catchment strategies, and support community participation.

I recall during my time at Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Department initially intended to establish 19 CMAs back then, this was reduced to nine and then ultimately further reduced to six due to the river systems, cost management and economies of scale.

We must also consider whether catchment management strategies are advancing toward completion with meaningful input from water users and local communities. These strategies are essential to building water-resilient communities. At the same time, no CMA can operate in isolation — water systems are interconnected and highly complex, requiring strong collaboration across catchments.

Strengthening partnerships will be key to success. Universities, research bodies, private companies and civil society can each contribute specialised expertise, innovation and capacity building. By drawing on this broader ecosystem, CMAs can accelerate progress, enhance adaptive planning and ensure water resource management remains responsive to real-world challenges and local needs.

Hence the importance of full delegation of powers to all these water entities, through a genuine assessment of their governance status quo, managerial and technical operations budgets, as well as status on meeting their strategic goals for effective water management, amidst the current climate of persisting challenges in managing the country’s limited water resources effectively.

During AWSISA, a platform for genuine discussions concerning issues of financial viability, employee costs, and governance, transparency and community involvement should be encouraged. Equally, pressing issues such as budget constraints must also be addressed, with solutions already proposed for innovative funding mechanisms and public-private partnerships to improve sustainability.

Lastly, the possible interventions and/or policy support mechanisms provided to CMAs concerning water user associations (within CMA area of jurisdiction) and its operations must also be encouraged.

By Dr Harrison Pienaar, chairman, WISA