Groundwater is key for sustainable development

Summary

The SADC Groundwater Conference aims to strengthen sustainable groundwater management practices through regional collaboration and innovation.

Speakers at the 7th SADC Groundwater Conference spoke from the same script.

The message was that groundwater is a strategic asset for climate resilience, socio-economic development and ecosystem stability.

Officially opening the conference in Johannesburg, South Africa on 19 November 2025, South African Acting Minister for Water and Sanitation, Ms. Thembi Simelane said groundwater is no longer an optional supplement for sustainable development but rather a critical resource that needs to be fully exploited to benefit communities.

“Groundwater, once regarded as a hidden, peripheral reserve has now proven to be one of the most reliable buffers in a climate-stressed world, yet it remains undervalued, under-managed and under-invested across much of our region” Ms. Simelani, who is also the Human Settlements Minister said.

“This conference provides a critical platform to elevate groundwater as a strategic asset for climate resilience, socio-economic development and ecosystem stability.”

Director of Infrastructure at the SADC Secretariat, Ms. Mapolao Mokoena concurred, adding that if fully exploited, groundwater has the capacity to improve the livelihood of people living in the countryside as well as those in cities.

“In an era of climate-induced economic disruption, groundwater represents a buried treasure of stability for our agricultural sector, our rural economies, and our urban water security.”

Executive Director for the SADC-GMI, Eng. James Sauramba also asserted that it is vital for southern Africa to invest in robust monitoring systems to manage its groundwater resources.

“We cannot monitor what we don’t know. Accurate data is key in sustainable groundwater management,” Eng. Sauramba said.

The 7th SADC Groundwater Conference that was held on 19-21 November 2025 under the theme “Investing in Groundwater for Climate Action,” aims to strengthen sustainable groundwater management practices through regional collaboration and innovation.

The annual conference brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders to engage in groundwater-focused dialogue across SADC Member States.

As part of the conference, LIMCOM took part in the Conjunctive Water Management Dialogue, where the Commission shared insights on transboundary groundwater governance and cooperation in the Limpopo Basin.

The session, organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), IW: LEARN, and partners, aimed to promote sustainable, cooperative and integrated groundwater management as a vital element of global water security and environmental sustainability.

LIMCOM also exhibited at the conference, and during her visit to the LIMCOM stand on Minister for Simelane encouraged the Commission to continue its good work of strengthening transboundary cooperation in the Limpopo basin.