The City of Tshwane’s new digital dashboard will track water consumption and losses, manage demand, and reduce non-revenue water, which results from leaks and theft.

This initiative is the result of a public-private partnership between the city, Vodacom, the Strategic Water Partnership Network (SWPN), and Mezzanine.

The city’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Utility Services, Frans Boshielo said the web-based platform, accessible on the city’s website, is a crucial tool in the city’s strategy to monitor water consumption and losses.

According to him, the initiative supports the Department of Water and Sanitation’s “No Drop” programme, aimed at improving water efficiency and loss management.

“This digital solution marks a shift towards data-driven water management, offering greater transparency and accountability. Using the International Water Association water balance methodology, the system provides precise insight into water demand and losses, moving beyond the vague concept of non-revenue water,” he said.

Boshielo said the dashboard will enable the city to identify water demand and loss areas by breaking down total water supplied per distribution networks.

“The introduction of the digital water tower is a transformative step for Tshwane,” he said, adding that the partnership between the city, Vodacom, SWPN, and Mezzanine paves the way for a water-secure future.

“By maximising from our own dams and boreholes, every drop saved moves us closer to water security. The journey towards a sustainable Tshwane begins with this decisive action,” he said. 

Vodacom’s Martha Lamola, Operations Director for Ventures and Partnerships, said the company’s purpose is to connect everyone for a better future, with reliable, clean water being a key foundation for improving quality of life.

“This project puts our purpose into action, using technology and partnerships to champion water stewardship. We are proud to be a sponsor and a long-term partner in this vital work,” she said.

Alyssa Jooste, AB InBev Global Water and Nature manager and SWPN Private Sector co-chair, said the digital platform’s launch marks a major milestone for SWPN, demonstrating the impactful outcomes of effective public-private collaboration.

She said: “The No Drop Programme, developed collaboratively with the Department of Water and Sanitation through our working group, has been transformed into a practical tool delivering tangible impact. We are confident that the success seen in Tshwane will serve as a blueprint for other municipalities, accelerating our shared progress toward a water-secure future for South Africa.” 

According to Jacques de Vos, chief executive officer of Mezzanine, the company’s mission is to enable productive societies in Africa. 

He emphasised that access to clean water is a fundamental prerequisite for community development, and that regions like Gauteng require smart, non-infrastructure solutions to enhance revenue collection, guide strategic investment, and optimise daily operations.

The city’s chief operations officer, Vuyo Zitumane, recently highlighted the main challenges facing the city, including non-technical water losses and technical losses due to aging infrastructure. 

The Auditor-General reported R1.3 billion in water losses for the 2023/24 financial year.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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