Bronkhorstspruit: Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina will this morning officiate the handover of a newly completed borehole in Bronkhorstspruit, Tshwane, as part of government's interventions to increase water supply to the area. The handover will take place at the Indlu Yokuthula Service Center in Sokhulumi, Bronkhorstspruit, under the Department of Water and Sanitation's International Women's Day 2026 Ministerial Engagement and the Water Month Flagship Programme.

According to South African Government News Agency, the intervention is part of government's ongoing commitment to expanding reliable access to water and advancing women's empowerment through sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives. This milestone not only improves local water access but also serves as a strategic platform to mobilise support for the Sector Wide Women in Water Programmatic Approach 2026 - 2030. The framework aims to strengthen gender mainstreaming across the water and sanitation sector, while advancing women's leadership, skills development, entrepreneurship, and economic participation.

The department noted that the ministerial engagement will convene women leaders across the water sector, water boards and entities, business leaders, private sector partners, non-governmental organisations, civil society, rural women representatives, and educational institutions. Stakeholders are expected to pledge their commitment to accelerating opportunities for women and building a more inclusive and equitable water industry.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa elevated water to one of the country's most pressing concerns, from large cities such as Johannesburg, to smaller towns like Knysna and rural areas such as Giyani. The President announced the establishment of a National Water Crisis Committee, which he will personally chair, as government intensifies efforts to confront South Africa's deepening water challenges. He emphasized the need for swift action and coordination across all spheres of government to tackle water scarcity.

March is a month of landmark observances, including National Water Month, International Women's Day, and Human Rights Day. International Women's Day, commemorated globally on 8 March, draws attention to gender equality and the empowerment of women, with a strong link to water issues. Meanwhile, National Water Month highlights progress in delivering water as a constitutional human right in South Africa, while acknowledging persistent challenges of water scarcity.

The programme also aligns with this year's United Nations's World Water Day theme, 'Water and Gender', with the slogan: 'Where Water Flows, Equality Grows'. This theme urges governments worldwide to center women and girls in water solutions, ensuring their voices, leadership, and agency are fully recognized in water decision-making, thus highlighting a transformative, rights-based approach to solving the water challenges.