The South African Water and Sanitation Youth Network (SAWSYN) was launched at the National Youth Indaba Conference 2025 held in Boksburg between June 30 and July 2, 2025. 

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), in partnership with Rand Water, held the indaba over three days, bringing together young leaders, industry experts, and key stakeholders for insightful engagements on the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities within South Africa’s water sector. 

The indaba was held under the national theme: Skills for a Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.

Nthabiseng Fundakubi, deputy director-general in DWS, said that the youth play a pivotal role in shaping the water and sanitation sector, and that their voices were critical.

“Nations need to invest in the youth to ensure balance and equitable growth,” acknowledged Fundakubi.

The objectives of the National Youth Indaba were:

• Facilitate participation of youth and key stakeholders. 
• Capacitate the youth with information, opportunities, and technical resources.
• Launch the South African Implementation framework for the young professional network.
• Recognise youth innovations, achievements, and success stories.
• Encourage nation-building programmes. 

Tiyani Chauke of DWS encouraged participants to view the conference as the beginning of a broader movement.

“Let us be the generation that gets things done for our communities, for our country, and for the future of water security,” Chauke said.

Wisane Mavasa, spokesperson for DWS, stated that SAWSYN gave a sterling presentation on the work that they do countrywide. 

“It was heartwarming to learn from them that they are now inviting the business sectors as well to join their network so that they do not work in silos. Businesses can now get involved in matters that SAWSYN is doing.

“The National Empowerment Fund offers training and funding. The youngsters were indeed encouraged not to just sit at home thinking that there is no employment; the fund can assist,” Mavasa said. 

Ramateu Monyokolo, the chairperson of the Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA), supported the establishment of SAWSYN as a bold, strategic, and watershed platform for youth leadership, innovation, and transformation.

Monyokolo said the network could be used as a vehicle to break the cycle of poverty, unemployment, and exclusion that continues to impact millions of young South Africans. 

“The network places youth development and empowerment at the heart of water and sanitation sectors’ long-term sustainability, innovation, and service delivery, thus it is a structural response to an urgent national imperative. We believe in meaningful intergenerational collaboration and that young people must not be passive beneficiaries of change – they must be co-creators of the solutions,” Monyokolo said 

The Inkomati-Usuthu catchment management agency stated that young professionals gathered to engage in meaningful dialogue, learn from experts, and co-create solutions for a more sustainable water sector.

They believed that the future of water and sanitation leadership is young, bold, and action-driven.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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