The City of Cape Town is shaping Africa’s smart water future and is excited to partner with the Smart Water Network Forum (SWAN) to host a key workshop at the CTICC from March 9 to 11, 2026. This event will bring together leaders from across Africa to explore innovative ways to finance and implement smart water technologies by addressing critical challenges like population growth and climate change.
Interactive sessions will be held with strategic discussions, and a study tour, that all focused on building a more resilient and sustainable water future for the continent.
Objective of this Smart Water Network Forum (SWAN), annual interactive workshop is to engage the water sector on innovative financing for smart water solutions and foster dialogue between private sector practitioners, policymakers and water utilities, looking to implement digital solutions, which will transform water management across Africa.
Pressure of rapid population growth, unpredictable climate change and accelerating urbanisation, is negatively impacting existing water supply systems. Cities transitioning to smarter water management technologies support water conservation and improved data management of water consumption.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien said that the City of Cape Town is proud to collaborate with SWAN to host an important discussion about the affordability and financing of advanced smart water solutions. They welcomed the expertise that will be shared by industry experts in finance, research and water regulation from nine international countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.
Badroodien said that their team will share the stage alongside speakers from five local municipalities: Cape Town, uMngeni, Drakenstein, George and Mbombela.
About SWAN
The Smart Water Network Forum is a leading global non-profit and membership-based organisation, which brings together water utilities, industry experts, and innovative solution suppliers to unlock digital transformation by promoting and accelerating the adoption of smart, data-driven solutions in water, wastewater, and stormwater networks worldwide.
About Workshop
For the three consecutive days from March 09 to 11, 2026 the workshop will be observed under the theme ‘Shaping Africa’s Smart Water Future’ at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The schedule for the workshop is:
- Day 1: Interactive workshop on ‘De-Risking Smart Water Financing’
- Day 2: Strategic water and wastewater sessions
- Day 3: City of Cape Town study tour (limited to 50 participants)
Considering this, CEO of SWAN – Dr. Amir Cahn said that building on the momentum of the first SWAN Cape Town Workshop, this 2026 edition will zoom in on how digital transformation is creating tangible impact across Africa’s water sector.
The intention is to deliver practical, real-world insights from municipal utilities and private-sector leaders, showcasing applied solutions, hard-won lessons (including project pivots), and proven best practices for integrating people, processes, and technology to deliver the lasting change.
Africa Consulting Leader (EY) – Hennie Human said that they are pleased to be joined by EY as the sponsor of the ‘De Risking Smart Water Financing’ day of the workshop.
As part of their commitment to advance resilient and future ready water infrastructure, they will be sharing strategic perspectives on smarter procurement models, digital twin technologies and AI driven approaches designed to enhance operational, organisational, customer and financial resilience.
Notably, the programme also invites the general public to attend through limited ticket sales and contribute through interactive roundtables. Local businesses in the water sector are encouraged to register for limited exhibition opportunities.