As South Africa faces escalating water scarcity – driven by climate change, crumbling infrastructure, and systemic inequities – three powerhouse institutions are uniting to drive solutions. The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), Ferguson Media (919FM), and the Empire Partner Foundation (EPF) are launching a high-impact campaign under the Problem-Solving Methodology, kicking off with a pivotal dialogue on 30 April 2025: “Water Scarcity, Resource Management, and Future Planning in South Africa”
This isn’t just another discussion: it’s a catalyst for action.
With 100+ in-person and virtual attendees and a projected digital reach of 10,000+, the session will mobilise policymakers, engineers, activists and innovators to confront one of the nation’s most urgent challenges:
How can South Africa secure its water future before it’s too late?
Why This Matters Now
South Africa is ranked among the world’s 30 most water-stressed countries (World Resources Institute).
Droughts, mismanagement, and failing infrastructure – like the R1.2 billion in water losses daily due to leaks (DWS) – threaten economic stability and public health.
Meanwhile, 43% of rural households lack reliable access (Stats SA), exacerbating inequality.
The initiative responds with a practical, multi-stakeholder approach, merging policy, tech, and grassroots innovation to:
· Modernise infrastructure (smart systems, PPPs)
· Amplify community-led solutions (local governance, indigenous knowledge)
· Drive investment & accountability (public/private funding frameworks)
Key Voices Shaping the Dialogue (30 April 2025)
The hybrid session will feature high-impact speakers, including:
- Ferrial Adam (Executive Manager, WaterCAN) – Advocacy & accountability
- Luba Luyaba (Principal Engineer, SALGA) – Municipal water solutions
- Nathan Mariemuthu (EPF Founder) – Youth & tech innovation
- Moderator (GIBS Faculty) – Leadership in crisis
They’ll tackle hard questions:
- Modernising water infrastructure through public-private tech innovation
- Addressing access inequities through community-driven models
- Integrating indigenous knowledge and data systems for resilient planning
- Building a problem-solving methodology to solve South Africa’s challenges
Building a Movement: From Engagement to Action
This session is part of a year-long strategic plan to create a hub for cross-sector collaboration. The initiative aims to:
- Generate actionable commitments, including tech partnerships and funding pledges
- Secure media exposure across national and sector-specific platforms
- Roll out pilot projects informed by the session’s outcomes
- Govt & Research Reps (DWS, Water Research Commission, DSTI) will be present
