Major milestones have been passed in the establishment of the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (SANWRIA), and the operationalisation of the new State-owned water agency is steadily progressing.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on Tuesday said that the new agency’s board of directors has been approved by Cabinet and the official registration of its name was now under way.

This followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s assent to the SANWRIA SOC Limited Amendment Act No. 6 of 2026, published in Government Gazette No. 54681 on May 14.

Following an open and transparent recruitment process, Cabinet approved Ramateu Monyokolo as SANWRIA chairperson and Precious Sibiya as deputy chairperson, supported by board members Barbara Schreiner; Simphiwe Khondlo; Gregory White; Nicholas Rabie; and Mankone Ntsaba.

The newly appointed board will oversee the next phase of the agency’s establishment, including the recruitment of a CEO and the conclusion of a shareholder’s compact with Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina to ensure alignment with government’s strategic priorities.

The registration and incorporation of SANWRIA with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission is under way.

In addition, the agency’s listing as a Schedule 2 public entity under the Public Finance Management Act will take effect automatically through the Amendment Act recently assented to by the President.

The achievements mark a significant step in strengthening South Africa’s capacity to finance, develop, operate and maintain national water resource infrastructure, while driving long-term investment to improve the country’s water security.

SANWRIA will consolidate infrastructure-related functions currently spread across the DWS, the Water Trading Entity and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) into a single institution, thereby improving coordination, strengthening governance, modernising asset management and creating a more efficient and financially sustainable national infrastructure agency.

To expand South Africa’s ability to invest in water infrastructure while reducing dependence on additional government guarantees, amid increasing fiscal constraints for sustained large-scale investment in dams, bulk water supply systems, transfer schemes and related infrastructure, the new agency has also been designed to meet the need for a more innovative and sustainable financing approach.

SANWRIA, built on the successful financing model of the TCTA, will leverage infrastructure assets and associated revenue streams to raise finance for strategic projects, attracting commercial and development funding from both local and international markets.

The agency’s core responsibilities will include developing new national water infrastructure, operating and maintaining existing infrastructure, managing dams and transfer schemes, raising finance for strategic water projects, overseeing key national water assets, improving long-term water security, and ensuring the reliability and sustainability of South Africa’s water infrastructure for future generations.

Water security is increasingly linked to economic growth, industrial development, public health and social stability, the DWS said, noting that South Africa’s future resilience will depend on reliable infrastructure and the ability to invest ahead of demand.

“As such, the establishment of SANWRIA comes at a critical moment for South Africa. Government remains committed to ensuring SANWRIA is established in a way that protects operational continuity, strengthens governance and delivers lasting value for the country. SANWRIA represents a bold new chapter for South Africa’s water sector, one focused on building the infrastructure needed to secure water for communities, the economy and future generations.”