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Minister of Water and Sanitation Mr Gugile Nkwinti officially opened the 5th Africa San Conference yesterday (Tuesday 19 February). Aimed at promoting prioritization of sanitation and hygiene in Africa, the Africa San Conference is organized by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW). The 4 day conference is currently held at the Cape International Convention Centre (CTICC).
 
For the next few days, the conference will feature interactive sessions and workshops to deliberate on sanitation strategies including how to strengthen policies and institutional regulation.
 
In his opening address Minister Nkwinti stated that South Africa has recently finalised a National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, taking into account the SDG and the African Union Agenda 2063 and the National Development Plan by 2030.  The master plan is meant to guide, integrate, set priorities and facilitate sustainable water and sanitation throughout the water and sanitation value chain.
 

For the past 2 decades the Government of South Africa has been hard at work in its quest to provide decent sanitation to its citizens. This includes amongst other the provision of toilets to the communities who previously had to relieve themselves in the open land. While these efforts are notable, there are still communities who are facing challenges when trying to access sanitation.

South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa with a sound sanitation policy framework. The national sanitation policy document provides a suite of procedures, rules and allocation mechanisms for sanitation in the country.  Some of the pillars of National sanitation policy are;

• Financial requirements for sanitation services
• Participation in sanitation services and
• Regulation of sanitation services

 
To further enhance provision of sanitation The Department of Water and Sanitation has also established the National Sanitation Task Team to bring the sector together to ensure integrated planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and ensure that South Africa meets the Sustainable Development Goals SDG sanitation targets.
 
As part of a broader awareness on promoting, the Department of Water and Sanitation has resolved to promote hygiene by issuing the following advisory;
 

• Washing of hands after using the toilet facility
• Washing of hands before preparing food
• Refrain from vandalizing sanitation infrastructure

 
 
“Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity”

Issued by The Department of Water and Sanitation Western Cape Region