Asmal a water reform pioneer – Swedes

PRETORIA: The late former minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Professor Kader Asmal, has been hailed by a visiting Swedish delegation as a pioneer of water reform in South Africa.

Speaking at a meeting with officials of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in Pretoria this week, the Swedish delegation, including officials of the Sweden department of environment, praised Asmal for his “extraordinary vision in transforming water from a mere commodity to a human rights issue”.

South Africans are in the midst of celebrating National Water Week, which started yesterday and runs until Sunday.

Asmal became the first minister of water during the Mandela administration from 1994 to 1999.

During his tenure, he abolished the old Water Act of 1956, which was biased towards white farmers and ignored the water needs of the vast majority of South Africans in rural areas.

The delegation, led by Sweden’s ambassador in South Africa, Jan Olsson, was in South Africa to discuss the possibility of developing a framework for collaboration between the two countries.

A South African-Swedish Bi-national Commission (BNC) was established in September 2000 and is chaired by the deputy presidents of both countries.

The deputy directorgeneral for water, Lindiwe Lusenga, said her department utilised the BNC, among others, to facilitate a “very active and in-depth political dialogue between South Africa and Sweden on issues related to our bilateral relations, regional and continental and global issues, where we share many common positions”.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation participates annually at the Stockholm World Water Week, which is co-ordinated by the Stockholm International Water Institute (Siwi).

“It was during these participations by the DWS wherein Siwi requested to sign a collaboration agreement with the department.

“After careful discussion between the DWS and Siwi, it was agreed that an overarching agreement between the DWS and the ministry of environment of Sweden should be developed.”

Olsson later opened Siwi offices in Hatfield, Pretoria, to be used, among other things, to recruit and train aspiring young water specialists in South Africa.

‘‘ Extraordinary vision in transforming water from a mere commodity to human rights issue

Picture: SOPHIA STANDER LAUDED: Kader Asmal, who died in 2011, was the first minister of water affairs during the Mandela administration from 1994 to 1999. He abolished the old Water Act of 1956, which was biased towards white farmers.