South Africa is one of the three most biodiverse countries in the world. It also constitutes the second largest economy in Africa, thanks to the wealth and diversity of its natural capital and water resources. Human development has, however, put severe strain on the environment and the functioning of its eco-systems. The quantity and quality of its natural resources, especially water, is becoming a priority concern. A concerted effort across all sectors is required to safeguard environmental integrity and resilience. This also aligns with the South African National Development Plan 2030 (NDP), which identifies the building of environmental sustainability and water resilience as a national imperative for economic growth.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality is the economic centre of the Eastern Cape. © Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber
Location: Eastern Cape
Aim: Support economic development in the Nelson Mandela Bay region through promoting natural resources stewardship and addressing water security challenges
Background: The Nelson Mandela Bay City Region in the Eastern Cape of South Africa is the hub of the automotive industry in Africa with a vibrant tourism and export agriculture sector. Yet, the region is embattled by an ongoing drought and is confronted with deficiencies in water supply and sanitation infrastructure with considerably high non-revenue water levels and water use inefficiencies. Furthermore, the ecological integrity of freshwater ecosystems such as wetlands is degraded, and weather extremes have become more severe due to climate change. The consequence of this is exacerbated water insecurity, which poses a threat to economic growth and job security across the region.
NatuReS working areas: Cities, Catchments
Partners: The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Santam, the Department of Cooperative Governance, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency and Living Lands
The Goedetrouw Dam in the uMhlathuze catchment. Copyright: GIZ/Lynne Matthysen
Location: Richardsbay, KwaZulu-Natal
Aim: Improved management of water resources across industry, agriculture and communities
Background: The uMhlathuze River catchment area in KwaZulu-Natal encompasses the city of Richards Bay, extensive irrigated agriculture, forest plantations, industrial complexes and various mining operations. The area relies heavily on the availability of water: Industry underpins the local economy and agriculture is a significant employer of communities in the area.
Activities:
NatuReS working areas: Cities, Catchments
Partners: National Business Initiative, WWF South Africa, Tongaat Hulett South Africa, Mondi and GIZ NatuReS, the City of uMhlathuze, the National Department of Water and Sanitation
Aim: Promoting extended access to value chains for smallholder farmers
Background: The Siyazisiza Trust is a non-profit organisation that provides support to smallholder farmers. Under UWASP, NatuReS supports the Siyazisiza Trust with the training and mentoring of smallholder farmers in Good Agricultural Practice (GAP). Covering the efficient use of resources, the trainings prepare them for an annual local GAP assessment. Passing this assessment enables smallholder farmers to access formal markets and supply their fresh produce.
Members of the Sivukile cooperative preparing the land
Copyright: Siyazisiza Trust
Resilient Economic Zones and Industrial Parks
Aim: Support the mainstreaming of water stewardship and embedding of resource use efficiency practices in industrial parks together with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to enhance sustainable industrialization.
Background: South Africa is a water scarce country. As a result, it is important for the country’s industrial parks to optimize their water use and embrace resource efficiency methods. This is critical to reduce the pressure industrial operations have on water resources and to ensure business continuation, as well as to support efforts towards meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to address challenges arising from climate change. Additionally, industrial parks in South Africa are evolving towards a clear awareness for the interdependencies between their operations and the natural environment. More parks are recognizing that their commercial viability and global competitiveness are linked to their ability to manage risks (internal and external) and mainstream sustainability practices. Water stewardship, water reuse, net zero water and other practices are pivotal to support industrial parks in their response to increasing water risks.
Activities:
A public-private platform for strategic water use in South Africa
Aim: Support the promotion of water stewardship best practices, promote partnerships addressing shared risks associated with the water value chain and support institutionalization of water stewardship nationally
Background: Water Stewardship is becoming increasingly important for water sector actors across South Africa. The private sector has showcased various innovative water stewardship approaches through which water management solutions have been implemented both within and beyond the factory fence.
Activities:
Resilient Economic Zones and Industrial Parks: Support embedding of water stewardship and resource use efficiency in industrial parks together with the Department of Trade and Industry and Innovation.
A learning collaboration together with South African Local Government Association, South African Cities Network, USAID WASH-FIN, 2030World Resources Group and selected cities in South Africa
Read an article about the latest event here.
“Through the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme GIZ is partnering with various South African companies and collective initiatives to tackle the most pressing of societal challenges. Both SASOL and the Strategic Water Partners Network continues to benefit from this cooperation aimed to catalyse much-needed change. Our collective objective is to advance stewardship practices over things we don’t own but over which we collectively care a lot about. We sincerely thank GIZ and the NatuReS programme for this continued support.”
Martin Ginster – Sasol, former private sector co-chair Strategic Water Partners Network
“The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber in South Africa is delighted to partner with GIZ’s NatuReS Programme. Through the Nelson Mandela Bay Stewardship Initiative a number of high-impact innovative solutions have been implemented. These include a contribution towards safeguarding water security, investments and livelihoods. We appreciate the role played by GIZ NatuReS in our region in catalysing economic development, including the green economy. We have also gained a number of critical stakeholders through this very partnership.”
Nomkhita Mona – Former Chief Executive Office of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber
NatuReS is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-funded by the European Union and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This website’s contents are the sole responsibility of GIZ and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BMZ, European Union or FCDO.