Pretoria: The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing climate change and its impact on water resources and sanitation services across the country. Speaking during a workshop organised by the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) in conjunction with the department, the department’s Deputy Director-General, Deborah Mochotlhi, emphasised the significance of urgent measures to adapt to the effects of climate change.

According to South African Government News Agency, Mochotlhi highlighted the urgency of transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy in line with South Africa’s constitutional mandate and recent legislative advancements, including the Climate Change Act of 2024. The department has developed a comprehensive Climate Change Response Strategy, which outlines proactive measures to mitigate challenges posed by extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts.

Mochotlhi noted that the department is implementing adaptation measures in key water man
agement areas like Vaal Orange and Limpopo Olifants, informed by recent climate risk and vulnerability assessments. Efforts are underway to integrate climate change adaptation into the business plans of water services authorities, with collaborations across sectors, including agriculture, to enhance water use efficiency and resilience.

In 2024, the department conducted capacity building on risk and vulnerability assessments for catchment management areas, water service authorities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as part of mainstreaming climate change adaptation measures. Mochotlhi stressed the necessity for collaboration among key stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector to counteract the adverse effects of climate change.

Mochotlhi called on stakeholders to unite in securing water resources and ensuring safe sanitation for all South Africans, urging swift and decisive action by leveraging legislative frameworks and fostering partnerships to address funding and resource needs. The worksho
p aimed to address South Africa’s critical need for climate adaptation readiness in the water sector as part of the country’s broader Just Transition Strategy.

The workshop, held in Pretoria, was attended by senior government representatives from departments including Human Settlement, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Agriculture, and National Treasury. The department’s responsibilities regarding climate change in the water and sanitation sector are outlined in the Water and Sanitation Sector Policy on Climate Change, mandated by national, regional, and international policy frameworks to which South Africa is a signatory.