The Western Cape’s water resilience strategy highlights a fundamental imbalance: The existing system yield is no longer sufficient to meet the province’s growing water demand. This reality makes water stewardship interventions critical and is a compelling investment opportunity for private businesses and funders.

Businesses gain tangible value from water stewardship initiatives by lowering water-related risks across their supply chains, while also strengthening their reputation and building more constructive relationships with government, industry partners and the communities in which they operate.

Successful water stewardship projects

At catchment level, a range of water stewardship interventions have already been successfully implemented by businesses across the Western Cape and South Africa, with several standout examples highlighted below.

• The Greater Cape Town Water Fund: Investing in the clearing and management of alien invasive plants (AIPs)

South Africa’s first water fund – The Greater Cape Town Water Fund (GCTWF) – has implemented nature-based solutions such as controlling alien invasive plants (AIPs) and wetland rehabilitation up to the end of July 2025. GCTWF is an innovative public-private partnership, led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

They have cleared 82 231 hectares in seven priority catchments of the Western Cape Water Supply System. As a result, streamflow was increased by 34.5 Mm³ per year and 1 344 green job opportunities were created around 50% held by women and 24% by youth. Although the initial clearing of dense, mature IAPs is labour-intensive and costly, consistent follow-up clearing suppresses regrowth and allows fynbos vegetation to recover. Over time, costs decline sharply while the associated water benefits continue to increase.

Water funds like the GCTWF help overcome market failures and fragmentation by offering a collective platform to coordinate implementation and long-term maintenance. They do not replace government responsibilities but strengthen and scale them, enabling

• The uMhlathuze Catchment Management Forum: Investing in water stewardship partnerships

A WWF South Africa-CHEP water stewardship initiative in the Southern Drakensberg resulted in 615 farmers being trained in sustainable rangeland practices and approximately 1 435 individuals across 287 households benefiting from enhanced access to potable water through the protection of local natural springs. Three mobile livestock auctions were successfully facilitated and generated over R2.2 million, which was used to support farmers, encourage sustainable farming practices, and improve the economic resilience of the community. The initiative is working to formally declare nearly 2 000 hectares as ecologically critical land.

The uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership (uWASP), co-initiated by WWF South Africa and its partners, has initiated several stewardship projects, including convening the uMhlathuze Catchment Management Forum, developing a multi-stakeholder alien invasive plant strategy, and working with farmers to improve water management.

• FMCG company: Investing in water replenishment

A FMCG company funded a replenishment project in five municipalities (Dawid Kruiper municipality, Madibeng municipality, Mogalakwena municipality, Polokwane municipality, and Mangaung municipality) that included leak repairs in schools and the refurbishment of the municipal pressure reducing valves. Their aim was to achieve water savings equal to or higher than their annual water usage. Interventions at schools in two municipalities, resulted in average monthly water savings of 300 kl and 2 100 kl respectively, with paybacks of 0.4 – 1.7 years.

Successful initiatives such as these  rely on strong partnerships between the private sector, conservation organisations, municipalities, and local communities. Yet, across South Africa, many businesses cite a shortage of awareness, collaboration, and co-funding as barriers to action.

The initiatives prove that nature-based solutions (such as IAP clearing) can be a cost-effective approach to increasing water supply, compared to traditional engineering schemes, such as desalination or potable water reuse. They provide catchment-level water benefits through increased streamflow, as well as social benefits, through job creation. Furthermore, sustainable rangeland management, springs protection, and farmer training can lead to social, economic, and environmental benefits. Investment in leak repairs and retrofitting at schools can also result in financial and social benefits.

Investors have a timely opportunity to:

• replicate successful initiatives in other provinces, using proven methodologies.
• support initiatives that directly improve system resilience and protect business operations from future supply risks.
• align with national sustainability priorities and contribute to community wellbeing.

The recommendation is that private businesses and funders commit to co-investing in water stewardship partnerships. By doing so, they will not only secure long-term water supply resilience but also position themselves as leaders in sustainable resource management across South Africa.

What is water stewardship?

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) describes water stewardship as a means of using and managing water in a responsible way that protects the environment and allows people equitable access to water. This requires that communities work together with businesses and government to take action at specific sites and across entire catchment areas.

GreenCape’s work in the water sector

GreenCape’s water programme concentrates on two broad areas: firstly, we aim to improve the productive use of water to support sustainable economic development; secondly, we promote the uptake of green technologies and businesses. Our overall goal is to increase job creation and investment into green water technology and services, and to improve water resource productivity.

We do this through our market research and intelligence activities; by networking and matchmaking businesses; through cleantech advocacy; and research into the economic opportunities and constraints of water.

To learn more about these initiatives and explore opportunities to engage, collaborate or invest, visit the GreenCape website.

R32 billion investment potential in Western Cape’s water sector

GreenCape, in partnership with the Western Cape Government Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) has published an industry brief on replicable water stewardship projects for investment and collaboration. Get in touch to explore these investment opportunities in greater depth:

• Email: info@greencape.co.za
• Phone: +27 21 811 0250
• Download full report here: