Amid growing water resource scarcity, a key question arises: how can proper consultations change the approach to resource management? An employee of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) noted that recent discussions on proposed raw water tariffs for the 2027/28 financial year prompted reflection on the true meaning of consultations.
Although the legislative and political framework, including the Water Act of 1998, the Public Finance Management Act, and the Raw Water Pricing Strategy, obligates the DWS to consult with water users, the author emphasized that consultation should not merely be a formal fulfillment of legal requirements. For him, consultation gains meaning when people feel they have been given the opportunity to speak out, ask questions, express disagreement, and be heard.
The author had the honor of presenting at an industry consultation in Pretoria and a National Forum in Johannesburg in August 2026. Prior to this, DWS colleagues conducted consultations in respective provinces, engaging stakeholders across the country.
Participants in the national discussion
What was most striking was the diversity of participants gathered around one vital resource—water. The national discussion included representatives from organizations such as the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, Sasol, Rand Water, uMngeni-uThukela Water, Forestry South Africa, the Crocodile River Irrigation Board, and the South African Association for Water User Associations.
While the industry consultation allowed water users to critically assess the proposed tariffs and submit their suggestions, the national forum gave the Department an opportunity to present the outcomes of these meetings and provide feedback on the economic analysis. Furthermore, the Department presented the final proposed raw water tariffs, which will be submitted to the Minister of Water and Sanitation.
The author acknowledges that complete agreement among all participants is impossible and believes that disagreements are a valuable part of the consultation process. The existence of a platform where different viewpoints can be voiced and considered is important.
This experience helped the author, who works as a communicator, better understand that the ability to listen is as important as the ability to speak. Attention is often focused on conveying information—explaining government actions and the reasons behind them. However, communication is not a one-way process; it must also create opportunities for feedback from the public.
In this context, the importance of collaboration increases. Sustainable water resource management requires both the government and water users to recognize their shared involvement in this dialogue. Farmers, municipalities, industrial enterprises, mining companies, utilities, and other stakeholders may have different interests, but all are concerned with how South Africa manages its limited water reserves.
The consultations served as a reminder that while legislation may mandate a certain process, it is the quality of interaction that gives the process true meaning. As a DWS employee, the author found this observation encouraging.
The proposed raw water tariffs for the 2027/28 financial year are moving to the next stage, and the recommended rates will be presented to the Minister for review and approval. Regardless of the final outcome, the author believes that the opportunity to participate in the dialogue, listen, and exchange views has become an important part of the entire journey.
Reflecting on the consultations, the author concluded: the requirement to consult is following the law, but the choice to listen is understanding the people affected by the decision. This, in the author's view, is where substantive consultation begins. He concludes that sustainable water resource management cannot be achieved through a single voice; it requires conversation and, most importantly, a willingness to listen to one another.