R176bn for Africa's water security so far

A collective pledge to inject over $10 billion (about R176 billion) into African water projects was secured at the inaugural African Union Water Investment Summit in Cape Town last week, Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina says.

- Jarryd Westerdale

The programme to address the continent's water security was initiated in 2021, with the funds raised in Cape Town to be distributed among almost 40 different countries.

The water summit formed part of the wide-ranging engagements under the banner of South Africa's G20 presidency and featured international water ministers and African heads of state.

The amount raised through the three-day engagements between the nearly 1700 delegates in attendance is just one-third of the amount sought by African leaders.

The water department confirmed that 80 projects across 38 countries were deemed a priority and subsequently attracted between $10 and $12 billion in investments.