Wamkelekile, Welkom
Collective Conversations #5: ‘Our Last Drop – Rethinking Water and Waste in Future Cities.’
06 August 2026 | Video Production Boikhutso Ntsoko, Ruairi Abrahams and Nomfundo Xolo. Photo Lerato Maduna.On 30 July 2026, the University of Cape Town (UCT) hosted the fifth instalment of the Collective Conversations: Science for Society series under the theme “Our Last Drop – Rethinking Water and Waste in Future Cities.” The conversation brought together voices from academia, government and industry to explore how South Africa can respond to growing water scarcity through innovation, evidence-based policy and collaborative action.
Faciliated by Africa Melane, the discussion featured Associate Professor Kirsty Carden from UCT's Future Water Institute, Dr Craig Tinashe Tanyanyiwa from Water Footprint Implementation, and Tamsin Faragher from the City of Cape Town. Together, they unpacked how water-sensitive urban design, nature-based solutions and sustainable stormwater management are reshaping urban planning, while demonstrating how tools such as water footprint assessments can help organisations better understand and reduce their water use.
UCT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation, Professor Thokozani Majozi emphasised that universities have a responsibility not only to generate knowledge, but also to work alongside communities, government and industry to translate research into practical solutions that improve lives.
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Climate change
The University of Cape Town is an internationally renowned hub for climate change research and training. Our work is a strategic response to urgent knowledge and capacity needs on the African continent – climate change impacts have severe implications for economic and social development, and Africa is particularly vulnerable. Greater expertise is needed to understand the challenges and to design, evaluate and sustain solutions. Engaged research can help society innovate and support effective climate policies and strategies.
This series of articles shows how UCT researchers are working with governments, civil society and the private sector to co-produce knowledge that is impactful, moving us towards a more resilient African society.
