Limpopo Public Dialogue “Access to water and sanitation”

On the 19th November 2020, the National Foundations Dialogue Initiative (NFDI) and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) held their first hybrid virtual-In person dialogue in the Vhembe and Sekhukhune districts of Limpopo. The topic of the dialogue: “Let’s talk about access to water and sanitation”

The In-person dialogue took place at the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Southern Africa) in Jane Furse under the leadership of Reverand Molokele and the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Southern Africa) in Shayandima under the leadership of Dr Alunamutwe Rannditsheni. There were approximately 150 people in attendance for both venues. Students from University of Venda assisted at the Shayandima church creating voice notes for the community in their respective mother tongues to ensure the attendees understood what the dialogue was all about and could fully participate. The students also assisted the church with the community registration process and ensured that COVID-19 regulations were strictly
adhered too. The programme included a breakaway session where delegates were allocated to respective breakaway rooms of their choice and the topics of discussions were as follows:

Breakout Room 1: Why your taps run dry – and what you can do about it?
Prof Mike Muller (Professional Civil Engineer, Adjunct Prof, Wits School of Governance and Director: Technical
Committee, WISA (Water Institute of Southern Africa) presented on the topic;
Breakout Room 2: Social audits of access to water
Ms Thando Mhlanga (International Budget Partnership / Coordinator, Social Audit Network);
Breakout Room 3: Water Research Commission pilot project in Limpopo
Mr Shafick Adams (Water Research Commission);
Breakout Room 4: Community-based projects in Limpopo
Prof John Odiyo (Dean: School of Environmental Science) University of Venda;
Breakout Room 5: Business contribution to access to water.
Mr Ben Mphahlele (Chairperson, Sesele Investment Group).

The dialogue was a huge success attended by the MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Mr Basikopo Makamu, experts, community members, ward councillors and many more.
The keynote speaker was Ms Hameda Deedat from NALEDI who is a water activist. Click here to listen to her presentation.
Click here to access the virtual library for the Limpopo Public Dialogue presentations.