Breakfast Sanitation Seminar- ‘The Future of Sanitation: Conventional and Decentralised Approaches’ in Johannesburg, South Africa

To improve sanitation in peri-urban informal settlements, schools, and communities in South Africa, BORDA South Africa hosted the 6th edition of the sanitation breakfast seminar fully funded and supported by City of Bremen (EZ Bremen). On 30 November 2021, the BORDA South Africa team hosted an innovative and informative breakfast seminar in commemoration of World Toilet Day themed- ‘The Future of Sanitation.’ The objectives and goals of the seminar were to explore conventional and decentralised approaches to sanitation with the focus being on eThekwini (Durban) region within South Africa. The concept and discussions aimed at lessons learned from the partnership between eThekwini Municipality and BORDA South Africa in terms technical and practical approaches to sanitation as a case study. Thirty-five (35) invited participants and stakeholders were mainly from the Johannesburg metro municipalities- water and sanitation units, water service authorities (Rand Water), water and sanitation innovators, university lecturers and practitioners within the water and sanitation sector.

The morning began with registration, networking, and breakfast for our attendees, followed by presentations by Ms. Lung Zuma, from eThekwini Municipality: Water and Sanitation Unit-Acting Strategic Executive, the title of her presentation-eThekwini Municipality: The Need for decentralizing wastewater treatment. The second presenter was Mr. Sabelo Mathenjwa, from eThekwini Municipality: Water and Sanitation Unit-Process Engineering Services cluster, his presentation titled- Conventional Sanitation Systems in South Africa in particular eThekwini Municipality. Mr. Lloyd Govender was the final presenter, Project Engineer from BORDA South Africa and his presentation focused on DEWATS as a case study in South Africa. After the presentations, there had been a questions and answers session moderated by our presenters.

Since coordinating our first breakfast seminar in 2018, with the focus then on Non-Sewered Sanitation Innovations, BORDA South Africa has gain traction from hosting these seminars and even being able to host one early this year in Cape Town. Building on the momentum and creating a sanitation network locally within the South Africa, will strategical place BORDA South Africa as an integral role player in solving the water and sanitation crisis in South Africa.