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Vision for WISA in 2000

29 May 2000

from Pumezo Jonas

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". To this end one of the most important functions of WISA is to be a conduit for fostering strong links with all the role players in the southern African water industry. Although being a Section 21 Company means that WISA shall use its funds and assets only for the stated aims and objectives, WISA must strive towards a business approach towards its activities.

The year 2000 should be one of great activity for WISA.

Firstly, I feel that in the new South Africa, the face of the South African water industry is changing rapidly and WISA must keep pace with the on-going transformation initiatives.

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. WISA needs to increase membership to a much larger extent. The traditional approach needs to be changed to an aggressive recruitment drive to all South African big business. After all, all industry has some water or wastewater management component!

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, etc., need greater discussion forums and active debate by all people in the industry and WISA is ideally placed to provide the platforms.