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Monday, 24th November, 2025

Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA) Participates in 7th SADC Groundwater Conference

Acting Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Thembi Simelane, delivering the keynote address at the 7th SADC Groundwater Conference.

The Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA) took part in the 7^th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Groundwater Conference, held at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in South Africa from 19–21 November 2025.

Convened under the theme “Investing in Groundwater for Climate Action,” the three-day event brought together policymakers, scientists, water authorities and experts from across the region to highlight the critical role of sustainable groundwater management in building climate resilience.

KOBWA CEO, Mr. Trevor Shongwe, welcomes Acting Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Thembi Simelane, to the KOBWA exhibition stall.

Acting Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Thembi Simelane, officially opened the conference, calling for bold action and increased investment in groundwater infrastructure to ensure secure and resilient access to water for all communities. She emphasized the importance of education in helping citizens understand water as a vital resource, while highlighting the need for its conservation and responsible use.

SADC Groundwater Management Institute Executive Director, Eng. James Sauramba, stressed the importance of robust monitoring systems, noting that accurate data is essential for sustainable groundwater management. “We cannot monitor what we don’t know; accurate data is key in sustainable groundwater management,” he said, urging stakeholders to adopt data-driven approaches to safeguard the region’s water future.

Mr. Trevor Shongwe, CEO of KOBWA, briefing Acting Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Thembi Simelane, on the operational management of Driekoppies and Maguga Dams.

Ms. Mapolao Mokoena, Director of Infrastructure at the SADC Secretariat and Chairperson of the SADC-GMI Board, emphasized groundwater’s role as a strategic buffer against climate change. “With climate change, groundwater becomes a strategic buffer for our climate-stressed region, particularly for rural economies, the agricultural sector, and urban water security,” she said.

Conference Subthemes

The conference explored three critical subthemes:

1. Groundwater and Climate Change Mitigation: Examining the interconnectedness of groundwater resources, climate action, and ecosystem health, with a focus on sustainable management practices that enhance resilience against global environmental challenges.
2. Adaptation Strategies for Groundwater Management: Highlighting conjunctive water management and managed aquifer recharge (MAR) as key strategies for climate action, aimed at strengthening water security, mitigating droughts and floods, and supporting sustainable development.

1. Equity and Social Justice: Addressing the intersection of equity, social justice, and climate action, with discussions on designing fair, inclusive, and transformative solutions that ensure vulnerable communities benefit from climate action.

Eng. James Sauramba, Executive Director of the SADC Groundwater Management Institute, flanked by staff from KOBWA and JRBA.

Key Messages:

1. Research outputs on groundwater should inform policy for sustainable management.
2. Citizen science-based monitoring must be encouraged and supported.
3. A policy framework is needed to guide cross-border collaboration.
4. Each member state should establish a groundwater focal person to localize implementation.
5. Smart metering is essential to monitor abstraction from aquifers.

The conference showcased impactful initiatives from across sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing groundwater’s indispensable role in safeguarding livelihoods, strengthening resilience, and ensuring water security in the face of climate change.