The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) and UK-based Cranfield University Centre for Water, Environment and Development (CWED) are partnering to establish a cross-stakeholder consortium to achieve water security in Johannesburg.

The Johannesburg Community of Practice for Water Security (CoP4H2O), which was announced during a UJ/Cranfield-hosted webinar on Thursday, aims to address the critical water issues impacting Johannesburg, and across South Africa.

The country continues to face serious water security challenges and localised crises are increasing, including in Johannesburg, which, like many cities in the country, is experiencing increasing chronic water insecurity, with residents having grappled with poor water service delivery, leading to protests and demands for solutions from city officials.

The webinar, titled ‘How to organise collective action in a fragmented society: Averting a water crisis in Johannesburg’, panellists UJ CSDA senior researcher Dr Anthony Kaziboni, Cranfield University CWED water, society and development lecturer Dr Alesia Ofori, University of South Africa Department of Geography professor Anja du Plessis, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) policy specialist Dr Luvuyo Jalisa and University of the Witwatersrand School of Governance visiting adjunct professor Mike Muller unpacked the various challenges facing the country, the fragmented policies and action on the ground, and the complexity in resolving the issues.

Speaking during the webinar, Kaziboni said that the water sector was often fragmented by different perspectives, and while various community organisations and forums were all playing a critical role in developing solutions, their efforts were often also fragmented.

“We all have different ways of looking at things, but if we are able to come together, foster open and critical dialogue focused on cocreational solutions, we will be in a better stead to resolve not only the Johannesburg water crisis, but the water crisis in the country.”

The CoP4H2O aims to convene community leaders, city and government officials, engineers, researchers and academics, besides others, who share common water security concerns and are committed to resolving it collaboratively.

“By fostering and creating this collaborative space, we welcome the people who are interested in contributing positively to it,” he said.

“It is important that we acknowledge that the fight for water access is critical, and the right of access to water is a fundamental right that is enshrined in the South African Constitution. It is gaining momentum, we have many civil society organisation initiatives clamouring and fighting for water, and on the other side we have found city officials backsliding and taking a step back and not coming forth to engage.”

While the DWS is making strides, there is some evidence of setbacks and the results of the Blue, Green and No Drop reports show this.

The universities plan to host a two-day workshop in the last week of June, with the team in the process of identifying key stakeholders, including academics, researchers, experts in water management, conservation experts and social scientists, as well as people who bring valuable knowledge and research to the table, to take part.