The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, on behalf of the South African Government signed a landmark Water Cooperation Agreement with the Italian Republic today at Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Rosebank.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed today, saw both countries committing themselves to developing initiatives aimed at reducing climate change through provision of sustainable and integrated water a resources. Part of the agreement is that both South Africa and Italy will ensure education, training and research in the fields of water quality enhancement, water resource management, water service management and rural sanitation technology.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Mokonyane expressed her excitement, saying this agreement will ensure that both countries share knowledge expertise to fight climate change.
“Our partnership with the Italians is aimed at assisting us strengthen our waste water treatment capacity as well as rural, urban onsite and offsite sanitation systems. We have also agreed to cooperation in integrated water management solutions including the reuse of waste water for material and energy recovery. Given our current water challenges as a result of drought, water management is a critical resource and tool required by our government,” she said.
She said the main objective of the South African government is to ensure that poverty is eradicated, inequalities are reduced and that employment opportunities are created.
“We have made it our goal to ensure that we transform the water sector by making it inclusive of women and youth, those who were previously excluded,” she said.
Minister Mokonyane added that it is both countries’ responsibility to ensure that this agreement is implemented effectively to the benefit of communities.
“Our other area of focus as the country is food security and we hope that by coming into this agreement with Italy, the set objectives will be realised,” she emphasized.
A delegation of the Italian Republic led by Deputy Minister of Environment, Land and Sea Ms Barbara Degani said she is glad to have signed the agreement with South Africa.
“Working together will be a great opportunity for transferring expertise to fight climate change. The idea is to implement this agreement to the benefit of the people of both countries, especially women and the youth,” she said.
Ms Degani thanked Minister Mokonyane for all her efforts in making sure that the two countries work together.
The agreement between the two countries will also ensure that they work on joint projects that will enhance capacity building, technology transfer and technical assistance. These projects will mainly focus on empowerment of the previously disadvantaged groups in the society such as women, youth and people with disabilities.
A Joint Steering Committee will be established to ensure efficient implementation of the commitments made in the agreement between the two countries. This Committee will comprise of three representatives from the Department of Water and Sanitation and Italian Republic Department of Environment, Land and Sea.
This agreement came about, after a departmental delegation led by Minister Mokonyane and her Deputy, Ms Pamela Tshwete, visited Italy in September last year where they met with a number of stakeholders in the water sector. Subsequently, Minister Mokonyane hosted an Italian delegation in April this year. This was followed by the Italian delegation visit to KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and North West, wherein implementable joint projects were identified.
For more information contact:
Departmental Spokesperson
Mr Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
