As South Africa celebrates National Water Week from 16 to 20 March 2026, the WILDLANDS programme of the conservation focused NGO, WILDTRUST, shines a spotlight on the Upper uThukela Water Fund (UTWF) project – a pioneering initiative dedicated to protecting one of the country’s most vital and strategic water sources in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa through innovation, science, and inclusive community partnership.
National Water Week, co-ordinated by the Department of Water and Sanitation, is an annual call to action for responsible water use and the conservation of South Africa’s precious freshwater resources. This year’s campaign aligns with World Water Day on 22 March, set by UN-Water under the theme “Water and Gender” and the slogan “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows.” The theme underscores how equitable access to, and stewardship of, water resources can drive greater equality and opportunity for all. The Upper uThukela catchment plays a critical role in South Africa’s water security. It supplies large parts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and is a primary source of water for Gauteng province via inter-basin transfer into the Vaal River system. With mounting pressure from population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation, the urgency to protect and restore this strategic water source has never been greater. However, the Upper uThukela catchment faces severe degradation from invasive species and unsustainable land management, threatening both water quantity and quality.
The Upper uThukela River: A vital water source powering communities and economies across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. PHOTO: KIRSTEN OLIVER
The Upper uThukela Water Fund, led by WILDTRUST in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Nature for Water (N4W) among others, is a collaborative, science-driven effort to enhance water security. By investing in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) – such as removing invasive alien plants, rehabilitating eroded landscapes, and improving rangeland management — the UTWF will deliver significant investment returns: a benefit-cost ratio of 2.3:1 and a net present value of R216 million over 30 years. This initiative also acts as a catalyst for local development, creating jobs, improving food and water security, and protecting biodiversity. In support of the global 30×30 conservation target, local communities have set aside 32,000 hectares of near-pristine mountain and grassland, adjacent to the iconic Drakensberg World Heritage Site to become a formally protected environment within the next three years through the National Biodiversity Stewardship programme. “The Upper uThukela is not just a water source, it is the lifeblood of people, economies, and ecosystems across two provinces. Water security here is water security for millions. By investing in nature and empowering communities, we are investing in a more equal, resilient future,” said Kirsten Oliver, Deputy Director of Conservation Programmes at WILDTRUST.
“Through securing multi-stakeholder engagement and implementing scalable Nature -based Solutions, the work of the UTWF presents a viable and cost-effective solution to enhancing water security and ecological resilience in the Upper uThukela catchment,” she added.
“Through the findings of the Business Case, we estimate that investing R164 million over 30 years in a prioritised Nature-based Solution portfolio in the Upper uThukela Catchment could unlock around R380 million in benefits,” said Oliver. Key gains include securing 9 million m3 of water annually, reducing water treatment costs, avoiding infrastructure replacement costs, increasing cattle sale revenues, and generating R62 million for local communities from carbon credits. Beyond financial and economic returns, investment in the UTWF fosters job creation, habitat restoration, biodiversity protection, and improved livelihoods, making it a compelling investment for sustainable water security and resilience. National Water Week 2026 is a timely reminder not to take clean, running water for granted and that safeguarding our strategic water sources means securing opportunity, resilience, and equality for generations to come. If you or your business wants to find out more and how you can get involved in helping us safeguard and conserve this critical water source, please reach out to Buyisiwe Makhoba Dlamini at buyisiwe@wildtrust.co.za.
