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Home > About WISA > Reports & Minutes > WISA PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2000

WISA PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2000

The Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) is now a Section 21 Company. Its mission is to “provide a forum for the exchange of information and views to improve water resource management in Southern Africa”.   Although being a Section 21 Company means that WISA shall use its funds and assets only for the stated aims and objectives, WISA has initiated a strong drive towards a business approach in its activities.

The year 2000 was one of great activity for WISA.   Three goals were set for the year:  The first one was that WISA must keep pace with the on-going rapid changes or transformation initiatives in the South African water industry.    Secondly, WISA must be seen to be more involved, have an authoritative voice and take a leadership role in all water resource management issues in Southern Africa.  WISA must actively recruit all policy and decision-makers in the water industry, leading water authorities and grass roots leaders to become active members of WISA.  Thirdly, some very topical and pertinent issues facing South Africa at the moment, e.g. privatisation of the water industry, fluoridation of water supplies, fostering greater business links with the rest of Africa, free water, etc., need greater discussion forums and active debate by all people in the industry and WISA is ideally placed to provide the platforms.  Otherwise WISA becomes irrelevant.

WISA established an important partnership with the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry during 2000. The President and the Chief Executive Officer visited the Portfolio Committee and made a presentation on the role and activities of WISA in the water industry.  This Portfolio Committee is responsible for dealing with legislation introduced into parliament by the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, oversees and monitors the work of the Department, and makes recommendations and proposals to the Minister.  The members of the Committee received the presentation very well.  An important message put across to Members of the Committee was the pool of water/wastewater industry expertise that WISA has in its database.   Somewhat as a result of this link, the President has recently been asked to give (and has given) his ideas to the committee on "the cholera issue and how best it can be addressed".  The ideas presented will hopefully assist the Committee in a briefing session with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in their strategies to alleviate the pandemic.

Council has also given WISA a mandate for the formation of another very important liaison with the Global Water Partnership whose mission is to "support countries in the sustainable management of their water resources".  Global Water Partnership is an international network of organizations and institutions whose members are interested in water resources development and management, and are committed to the Dublin-Rio principles.  WISA has initiated discussions with the Global Water Partnership to seek closer cooperation.

Some other ‘New South Africa firsts’ at WISA include:  The First Black President, first woman Honorary Member, first Divisional web page, first visit by WISA President to the Free State Branch, first use of Patron members of WISA web page and the re-activation of the Eastern Cape Branch.

WISA’s new business approach has been emphasised by the appointment of a full time Chief Executive Officer, Mr Willie Lötz.  Some of the successes of the year include

• Largest Biennial Conference attendance, WISA 2000,
• Improved distribution of WISA’s magazine: Water Sewage and Effluent and SA Water Bulletin,
• The establishment of new Financial Procedures & a Human Resources Policy for WISA staff,
• Membership communication now done mostly by e-mail
• The establishment of a new External Relations policy that means that WISA will actively seek partnerships with organisations to improve WISA’s business.

Pumezo M M Jonas

President of WISA

2000/2001