Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has called on her African counterparts to take immediate steps towards water conservation, warning that delays in implementing critical measures could have severe consequences for the continent’s future. She delivered this message at a Ministerial Breakfast Meeting during the Africa Water Week (AWW) and Cairo Water Week (CWW) conferences held in Egypt.

The breakfast meeting brought together representatives from several African nations, including Namibia, Senegal, Somalia, Egypt, and Lesotho. It provided an opportunity to review the outcomes of the 79th United Nations General Assembly session and discuss commitments in preparation for the African Union Water Investment Summit set for 2025.

Minister Majodina participated in the ninth edition of the AWW, which coincided with the Cairo Water Week, held from 13 to 17 October. In her opening address, she highlighted the urgency of the water crisis and warned against the dangers of inaction.

“Wars over water will result from inaction. We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation where there is conflict over water access. Instead, there should be a record showing we took action to prevent such a crisis,” Minister Majodina stressed. “At the next Africa Water Week, we must raise our efforts and ensure that all resolutions agreed upon here are implemented. The time for talking is over.”

The Minister also pointed out the need for greater gender representation in the water sector, noting that she was the only female Minister of Water present at the conference. “The lack of gender representation is evident. There wasn’t even a dedicated section addressing the unique challenges faced by women in the sector,” she observed.

Despite these shortcomings, Majodina expressed satisfaction with South Africa’s contributions at both the AWW and CWW events. She emphasised that South Africa had advocated for prioritising water issues on every discussion panel, aiming to share insights and learn from other participating countries.

“What we brought boldly to the fore is the need for water to be a priority on every panel,” she said. “We weren’t here just to absorb information, but also to share our experiences and solutions.”

The Minister’s remarks underscored the pressing need for collective action across Africa to address water scarcity and ensure sustainable access to water for all. As preparations continue for the African Union Water Investment Summit in 2025, her call serves as a reminder of the critical steps required to safeguard the continent’s future against water-related challenges.