What Does Department of Water and Sanitation Do?

Total employees3734
HeadquartersPretoria
Founded1975

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is the custodian of South Africa's water resources. It is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy governing this sector, ensuring that water resources are protected, managed, used, developed, conserved, and controlled in a sustainable and equitable manner. The DWS also has an overriding responsibility for water services provision, striving to ensure that all South Africans have access to clean water and dignified sanitation. Its work is crucial for the country's economic development, social well-being, and environmental sustainability.

Where Is Department of Water and Sanitation's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The headquarters serves as the primary center for national policy development, strategic planning, administrative oversight, and coordination of water and sanitation initiatives across South Africa.

Notable Features:

The Sedibeng Building is a significant government complex in Pretoria, designed to house the extensive administrative and technical functions of the department.

Work Culture:

The work culture is characterized by a public service ethos, focusing on regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement (municipalities, water boards, public), technical expertise, and project management related to water infrastructure and service delivery.

HQ Significance:

As the nerve center for South Africa's water and sanitation sector, the headquarters plays a vital role in addressing national water security, managing droughts and floods, ensuring water quality, and expanding access to essential services.

Values Reflected in HQ: The operations and strategic direction emanating from the headquarters aim to reflect values of sustainability, equity, accountability, and service excellence in managing a critical national resource.

Location:

While primarily a national department, the Department of Water and Sanitation (South Africa) engages internationally through various avenues. It participates in global water conferences and forums, contributes to international water policy discussions, and collaborates with international organizations on water research, technology transfer, and best practices. A significant aspect of its international role involves managing transboundary water resources through agreements and joint commissions with neighboring countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, such as for the Orange-Senqu, Limpopo, Komati, and Maputo river basins.

Street Address:

Sedibeng Building, 185 Francis Baard Street (formerly Schoeman Street)

City:

Pretoria

State/Province:

Gauteng

Country:

South Africa

Where Else Does Department of Water and Sanitation Operate Around the World?

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Address: Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8001

This office addresses the specific water challenges of the Western Cape, including water scarcity, managing major river systems, supporting the agricultural sector, and ensuring water supply to urban centers like Cape Town. It plays a key role in drought management and water conservation programs.

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Address: Southern Life Building, 88 Joe Slovo (Field) Street, Durban, 4001 (Example Address - verify exact regional office address)

Focuses on managing water resources in a summer rainfall area prone to both floods and droughts, supporting large-scale irrigation, industrial water use, and ensuring water services for densely populated urban and extensive rural areas.

Buying Intent Signals for Department of Water and Sanitation

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Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
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Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Department of Water and Sanitation? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Department of Water and Sanitation' leadership includes:

Senzo Mchunu - Minister of Water and Sanitation
David Mahlobo - Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation
Judith Tshabalala - Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation
Dr. Sean Phillips - Director-General

Who's Investing in Department of Water and Sanitation?

Department of Water and Sanitation has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Publicly Funded through the National Treasury of South Africa

What Leadership Changes Has Department of Water and Sanitation Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

The core senior executive leadership team at the Department of Water and Sanitation, including the Minister, Deputy Ministers, and Director-General, has maintained stability over the past 12 months. Key strategic appointments, such as the permanent appointment of the Director-General in early 2023, continue to shape the department's direction. No major new hires or departures within this top executive tier have been publicly announced in the immediate past 12-month period.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byDepartment of Water and Sanitation?

Discover the tools Department of Water and Sanitation uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Department of Water and Sanitation Email Formats and Examples

The Department of Water and Sanitation (South Africa) primarily uses a standardized email format for its officials and employees, typically combining parts of their name with the official government domain.

[Lastname][FirstInitial]@dws.gov.za

Format

PhillipsS@dws.gov.za

Example

90%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Department of Water and Sanitation?

Engineering NewsApril 5, 2024

Department of Water and Sanitation (South Africa) issues notice on raw water use charges for 2024/25

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) published the raw water use charges for various water management areas (WMAs) for the 2024/25 financial year in the Government Gazette. These charges, effective from April 1, 2024, are crucial for funding water resource management activities....more

SAnews.gov.zaMarch 28, 2024

Department of Water and Sanitation (South Africa) outlines measures to address Tshwane water challenges

The Department of Water and Sanitation, together with Rand Water and the City of Tshwane, detailed interventions to address persistent water service delivery challenges in parts of Tshwane. These measures include infrastructure upgrades, improved operational management, and enhanced water conservation efforts....more

www.dws.gov.za (Official DWS Portal)February 16, 2024

Minister Mchunu launches Phase 2 of Mbhashe Water Project in Eastern Cape

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu launched the second phase of the R1.4 billion Mbhashe Water Project in the Eastern Cape, aimed at providing reliable water supply to thousands of households in the Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities....more

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