Badenhorst is currently involved in the Mooi Mgeni Transfer Scheme project for the Spring Grove Dam and Appurtenant Works.
“ We need to develop and produce highlyskilled individuals to ensure that our dams are properly maintained and rehabilitated into the future. Like many other sectors, the water sector in South Africa needs to become a hub for Africa, where we can use and share our skills and talent with the rest of Africa’ s developing nations,” Badenhorst adds.
He says that the population in Africa is expected to double by 2030 and with growing urbanisation, there will be a significant need for water infrastructure.“ South Africa urgently needs to cultivate a pool of talented individuals that can help build a better tomorrow for Africa by developing infrastructure that is sustainable, technologically advanced, and flexible,” he adds.
Commenting on whether enough is being done by government and the private sector to address water-related challenges in South Africa, Badenhorst points out that government has really scaled up its water conservation and demand management programmes.
“ The minister of Water Affairs said this would continue‘ until such programmes become the norm, with water-wise behaviour being the predominant characteristics of all individuals and corporates in South Africa’.
“ The private sector must continue to partner with the government to develop solutions and technologies, and bring forward investments to help build and grow the water sector and address its challenges.”
He advocates a healthy and open relationship between government, the private
All photographs by Danie Badenhorst
AECOM dams and hydropower lead Danie Badenhorst’ s career spans four decades, during which he has worked on more than 120 dam projects in Africa.
sector, and other key stakeholders in South Africa to provide for an advanced and smart water management approach to take the country forward into a more positive, water secure future.
Badenhorst notes that South Africa also needs to harvest domestic rain water( water for livestock, water for irrigation); find solutions to integrate groundwater and surface water use in the future; focus on technology development for desalination at a large scale; drive research and development in the water sector; urgently revitalise the restoration and repair of water services; optimise water treatment and wastewater treatment works; and develop a pool of highly skilled engineers and other key technical trades required for strengthening and taking forward the country’ s water sector. networking tech news environment industry infrastructure municipalities
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