WRC

South African Water Research Commission investing in the creation and sharing of water-centred knowledge

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

EXCITING NEWS!🥳

We’ve launched our brand-new WRC A WaterWise Nation TV commercial!

A WaterWise Nation is a national movement led by the Water Research Commission calling on every South African from industries to households to rethink, reduce, and respect water.

✅Build resilient businesses
✅Create water-smart homes & schools
✅Empower change through education
✅Protect our shared future

Keep your eyes peeled on DSTV for the two weeks.

Be part of the movement
Act Today, Sustain Tomorrow
https://t.co/EWdG0epOqP

#WRC #SaveWater #AWaterWiseNationTV #WaterCrisis #WaterSavingTips #WaterCrisis #SmartWaterHack #ActTodaySustainTomorrow

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

Team 1, SaltiStop, has emerged as the overall winner of the 2026 Wetskills Challenge, held alongside the 27th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium in Arusha, Tanzania. The winning team impressed the judges with its solution to “Halting the Salt: Mitigating Over-pumping-Induced Saltwater Intrusion in Coastal and Inland Aquifers” – a real-world challenge presented by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), South Africa, as the case owner.

The challenge brought together emerging water professionals who spent approximately 10–12 days collaborating, exchanging knowledge and developing innovative solutions to pressing water and sanitation challenges.

In their addresses, Dr Tendai Sawunyama (a Board Member at the Water Research Commission) and Ms Nthabiseng Fundakubi (DDG at the Department of Water and Sanitation) highlighted the importance of regional collaboration, investing in young water professionals and translating research and innovation into practical solutions that advance Africa’s water security and climate resilience priorities.

The occasion also marked a significant milestone, with Tanzania hosting the 88th Wetskills edition and the first of its kind in Eastern Africa, opening new opportunities for regional collaboration and youth-led innovation in the water sector.

The WRC congratulates Team SsltiStop and all participating teams for their creativity, commitment and contribution. We also extend our appreciation to the Department of Water and Sanitation, WaterNet, Wetskills and our Tanzanian hosts for making this impactful initiative possible.

The challenge may be over, but the journey from innovation to implementation starts now. Together, let us turn knowledge into action and build a more water-secure and climate-resilient Africa.

#Wetskills #WaterNet2026 #WaterResearchCommission #WaterInnovation #YouthInWater #WaterSecurity #ClimateResilience

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

This morning in Arusha, the Wetskills Challenge Tanzania 2026 teams presented their innovative solutions to a panel of five judges, marking an exciting milestone in the two-week challenge.

Working in multidisciplinary and international teams, the participants pitched concepts addressing four real-world water challenges:

•Groundwater security: Mitigating saltwater intrusion caused by excessive groundwater pumping.
•Food and water security: Integrating indigenous and local knowledge with Western science to strengthen food security in the face of climate change – the challenge presented by the Water Research Commission (WRC).
•Climate-smart agriculture: Using historical crop water stress information to strengthen early-warning systems.
•Water and sanitation services: Reimagining service delivery through innovative and sustainable business solutions.

The pitches were adjudicated by a panel of five judges bringing multidisciplinary expertise and experience across the water, engineering, environmental and innovation sectors.

During the presentations, teams were challenged to demonstrate the practicality, economic viability and long-term sustainability of their proposed solutions, while showing how their ideas could translate into meaningful impact.

For WRC, the challenge provided an opportunity to engage emerging innovators in exploring how indigenous and local knowledge can complement scientific research to address pressing water and food security challenges.

The ideas have been presented, the judges have deliberated, and anticipation is building!

Who will emerge as the Wetskills-Tanzania 2026 winner? Join us at tonight's Gala Dinner in Arusha for the announcement of the winning team.

#Wetskills2026 #WetskillsTanzania #WaterInnovation #WaterSecurity #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #WRC

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

The Water Research Commission (WRC), represented by Mr John Dini, Research Manager: Water Governance, participated in the panel discussion “Creating the Conditions for Scale” during today’s open special session titled “From Innovation to Impact: Scaling Inclusive Water and Climate Solutions Across Eastern and Southern Africa,” convened by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

The panel brought together diverse perspectives from Ms Ntsebeng Dipudi (Department of Water and Sanitation), Dr Dennis Ch oruma (IWMI), Ms Likim yelesh Nigussie (IWMI), Mr John Dini (WRC), and Dr Lerato Phali (University of KwaZulu-Natal) to explore what it takes to translate water and climate innovations into sustainable, inclusive impact.

Discussions highlighted the importance of moving beyond the scale of interventions to examine who benefits, how opportunities are distributed and whether communities meaningfully participate in shaping solutions. Panellists also emphasised institutional accountability in the use of community-generated data, sustainable financing, supportive governance frameworks, local capacity development and community ownership as essential conditions for scaling innovations beyond project lifecycles.

The central message was clear: scaling inclusive water and climate solutions requires more than technological innovation. It demands sustained investment, strong local institutions and meaningful community participation to ensure that solutions respond to local realities and deliver equitable, lasting benefits.

#WaterResearchCommission #IWMI #WaterInnovation #ClimateResilience #InclusiveDevelopment

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

Yesterday afternoon, the Water Research Commission (WRC), in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, convened a special session at the 27th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium to strengthen southern and eastern Africa’s contribution to the Global Dialogue on Water Tenure.

The session brought together experts from South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to explore perspectives on water tenure, engage with the draft principles for its responsible governance, and identify shared priorities across the region.

Discussions highlighted the importance of recognising diverse water tenure systems, including customary arrangements, addressing the water tenure challenges faced by women, and understanding the links between water and land rights.

Through panel discussions and audience engagement, participants contributed African perspectives and key messages to inform the ongoing global dialogue towards more responsible and inclusive water governance.

#WRC #WaterTenure #WaterGovernance #WaterNet2026 #SustainableWaterFutures

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

Dr Tendai Sawunyama, WRC Board Member, was joined by Dkt. Toba Alnason Nguvila, Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) for Arusha, Tanzania, to officially open the Water Research Commission (WRC) stand at the 27th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium.

The opening marks an important opportunity to showcase the WRC’s contribution to water research, innovation and knowledge-sharing, while engaging with researchers, policymakers and other water sector stakeholders from across the region.

Through its participation, the WRC reaffirms its commitment to advancing science-based solutions, strengthening regional partnerships and promoting the uptake of water research to address shared water challenges and support sustainable water security across Africa.

#WRC #WaterNetSymposium #WaterResearch #WaterSecurity #WaterInnovation #RegionalCollaboration

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

As the 8th RD20 Conference concluded, Prof. Sylvester Mpandeli, Senior Research Manager: Water Use at the Water Research Commission (WRC), underscored the critical role of research partnerships in translating scientific knowledge into meaningful societal impact.

Addressing delegates at the closing dinner hosted by the CSIR, Prof. Mpandeli highlighted the need to strengthen the link between research, policy and implementation through integrated approaches across the water, energy and agricultural sectors. He called on research institutions and strategic partners across Africa and beyond to break down silos, invest in human capital development and ensure that research contributes to economic growth while helping to address poverty, unemployment and inequality.

He further emphasised the value of collaboration between established institutions and emerging researchers to build capacity and develop innovative, sustainable solutions to shared challenges, including climate change.

Reaffirming the WRC's commitment to partnership-driven impact, Prof. Mpandeli expressed appreciation to the CSIR and its leadership for creating a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. He concluded with a powerful reminder that research must extend beyond laboratories to improve lives and ensure that no one is left behind.

#RD20Conference #WRC #ResearchForImpact #ScienceAndInnovation

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

After a packed week of learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration, the Indaba concluded with a strong reminder that communities are at the heart of conservation.

Chaired by Bonani Madikizela, WRC Senior Research Manager, the closing session on Citizen Conservation and Community Stewardship showcased inspiring stories of communities restoring rivers, protecting wetlands and transforming urban spaces into thriving natural habitats. The session highlighted how local action and community stewardship are making a tangible difference in protecting South Africa’s wetlands and biodiversity.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate the power of collective action in safeguarding our shared environmental heritage.

#WetlandsIndaba2026 #CitizenConservation #CommunityStewardship #WetlandsMatter #WetlandConservation

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

Supporting future PhD researchers through ERAP 2026/27. 🎓
Apply now.

 #ResearchExcellence #waterresearch #WRC55

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

Celebrating Emerging Wetland Research Excellence
At the National Wetlands Indaba 2026 in Langebaan, the Water Research Commission proudly recognises outstanding young researchers whose work is advancing our understanding of South Africa’s vital wetland and catchment ecosystems.

1st Place Flash Talk Award went to Ms Tippi Swales from Stellenbosch University for her presentation: "Evaluating Wetland Health and Potential Ecosystem Service Provision in Valley-Bottom Wetlands in the Stellenbosch and Drakenstein Municipalities."

1st Place Oral Presentation Award was awarded to Mrs Kayla Schoenknecht from the University of the Western Cape for her presentation: "Catchment-Scale Geomorphic Response to the 2023 Flood Event in the Bot River Catchment, Western Cape."

Congratulations to both recipients on this well-deserved achievement. Your research is helping shape a water-secure future for all.

#NationalWetlandsIndaba2026 #WRC #WetlandsMatter #WaterResearch #ScienceForImpact #WaterSecurity #FutureWaterLeaders #WetlandConservation #ResearchExcellence

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

Earlier today, Jay Bhagwan, Senior Research Manager at the Water Research Commission (WRC), delivered an insightful presentation titled “Unconventional Hydropower: The Hidden Opportunity - South African Experiences” at the 8th RD20 Conference, currently underway at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria. 
The presentation highlighted South Africa's significant untapped hydropower potential and explored how existing water infrastructure, including municipal water distribution networks, dams, and inter-basin water transfer schemes, can be leveraged to generate clean, renewable energy. A key focus was on innovative technologies such as conduit hydropower, which harnesses the continuous flow of water within existing systems to strengthen energy resilience while improving infrastructure efficiency. 
Drawing on practical South African case studies, including Bloemwater's Brandkop Reservoir project, hydropower feasibility studies within the City of Tshwane, and run-of-river hydropower initiatives in Mhlontlo Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, the presentation demonstrated how smarter water management can unlock sustainable solutions at the nexus of water security, renewable energy generation, and infrastructure development. 

#RD20Conference #Hydropower #RenewableEnergy #WaterSecurity #Sustainability

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

Connecting minds. Collaborating for impact. Conserving our wetlands.

The National Wetlands Indaba 2026 provides a platform for thought leaders, researchers and practitioners to share insights, showcase innovations and drive solutions for the sustainable management of wetlands across South Africa.

#NWI2026 #WetlandsMatter #WaterResearch #EnvironmentalStewardship

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

As one of the sponsors of the National Wetlands Indaba 2026, the Water Research Commission reaffirmed its commitment to the sustainable management of South Africa’s wetlands through a keynote address delivered by Acting Executive: Research Development & Innovation, Dr Shafick Adams.

He emphasised that lasting wetland solutions require integrated expertise, community knowledge, practical monitoring, shared learning and partnerships that continue beyond individual projects. The message is clear: protecting wetlands can not wait. Researchers, practitioners, communities, municipalities, decisionmakers and funders must work together now to turn evidence into action, strengthen stewardship and safeguard wetland systems for future generations.

The WRC remains committed to supporting research, capacity development, and partnerships that advance water security, ecological resilience and sustainable wetland management across South Africa.

#WetlandsIndaba2026 #WaterResearchCommission #Wetlands #WaterSecurity #ResearchForImpact

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

South African excellence takes centre stage. Congratulations to the SANCID team for showcasing our water heritage and expertise on a global platform. 🇿🇦

In the words of WRC Senior Research Manager: Water Use, Prof Sylvester Mpandeli “As SANCID leadership, it has been our goal to put South Africa on the map.” 🌍

#LeadershipInWater #ProudlySouthAfrican #WaterHeritage #GlobalAwards #SANCID

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

Celebrating excellence at the SER Symposium.

The WRC congratulates Tshepang Tlali (Rhodes University)on receiving the Best Student Oral Presentation Award and Bheka Nxele (Stellenbosch University) for being named Runner-Up Best Student Oral Presentation. Their achievements reflect the calibre of emerging researchers contributing to scientific advancement and innovation.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to SER for recognising symposium speakers with a commemorative gift. Bonani Madikizela accepted the gift on behalf of Prof Stanley Liphadzi in absentia.

#WRC #SERSymposium #ResearchExcellence #StudentAchievement #FutureScientists

[SA Biodiversity @SANBI_ZA]

Good morning Mzansi and the world! Today marks the third day of the 2026 African Ecosystem Restoration Symposium (AER), taking place in Muldersdrift, Gauteng. The programme director, Mlu Nsikani, extended a warm welcome to all delegates, followed by a keynote presentation from Mahlodi Tau, SANBI's General Manager for Biodiversity Information and Policy Advice. Prudence Galega subsequently delivered remarks addressing forest governance, restoration initiatives, biodiversity conservation efforts, and community-driven climate action strategies. We will be updating you on this platform throughout the symposium #AERSymposium2026 #AfricanEcosystemRestoration

[SA Biodiversity @SANBI_ZA]

We are on day four of the 2026 African Ecosystem Restoration Symposium, being held in Muldersdrift, Gauteng. This morning, the programme director, Mlu Nsikani, extended a warm welcome to all delegates before the institutional leadership plenary commenced. Keynote speakers from Department of Water and Sanitation, Rand Water and the Water Research Commission delivered presentations to the delegates. The keynote speakers also engaged in an interactive high-level discussion with delegates, focusing on water security, ecosystem restoration, and large-scale implementation strategies #AERSymposium2026 #AfricanEcosystemRestoration

[SA Biodiversity @SANBI_ZA]

Following the lunch break, parallel sessions resumed with several presenters addressing different subjects. The WRC room session centred around community stewardship and catchment governance, whereas the SANBI session concentrated on landscape platforms, governance, and equity. The Rand Water room session focused on livelihood innovation and restoration initiatives at scale #AERSymposium2026 #AfricanEcosystemRestoration

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

[PICTURED] WRC Delegation and 10 students supported by the WRC to attend and participate in the Africa Ecosystem Restoration 2026 Symposium

[WRC @WaterResearchSA]

A defining moment for Africa's restoration movement.

At the Africa Ecosystem Restoration Symposium, Mr Bonani Madikizela challenged delegates to move from knowledge to implementation, emphasising that research must create real impact in communities.

Recognised for his pioneering role in the ecosystem restoration movement and the establishment of SER Africa, he highlighted the need to empower communities through citizen science, identify critical research gaps, and strengthen partnerships to restore wetlands and ecosystems.

With Africa facing escalating biodiversity loss, land degradation and growing environmental pressures, the message was clear: restoration is not only an environmental imperative, but also an economic opportunity.
Restore ecosystems. Restore livelihoods. Build local economies.

#SERAfrica #AfricaRestoration #CitizenScience #WRC #EcosystemRestoration