The Rand Water Socio-Economic Development (SED) strategy represents a pivotal initiative designed to enhance sustainable development and uplift communities within its operational jurisdiction. This strategy aligns with national priorities by focusing on the provision of clean water access, empowering local economies, and promoting equitable resource distribution. By integrating socio-economic considerations into its core operations, SED aims to foster partnerships with local businesses and civil society organizations to facilitate skills development, job creation, and entrepreneurship opportunities in under-resourced areas. The SED strategy not only addresses immediate water supply challenges but also emphasizes long-term community resilience through capacity building and infrastructure investment. Through these concerted efforts, SED initiatives aspires to create a positive socio-economic impact that transcends mere service delivery, ultimately contributing to enhanced quality of life for vulnerable populations while ensuring environmental sustainability.

SED is a deliberate effort focused on creating new business value. The initiatives provides both support to emerging enterprises to ensure their long-term sustainability. These SED initiatives are also intended to create and preserve jobs, expand our supplier base, contribute to the tax base, and facilitate essential skills development.

The introduction of a Socio-Economic Development (SED) model promotes and manages local initiatives, thereby minimizing risks associated with infrastructure and, at times, non-infrastructure projects. This model aligns with national goals of poverty relief and social inclusion, consistent with the objectives of the Developmental State and the National Development Plan. It also supports our statutory obligations under the B-BBEE and Preferential Procurement Acts.

This strategy document supports Rand Water’s strategic objectives and Supply Chain Management Policy by detailing the objectives for ED and SED. It also presents an implementation approach for both areas, outlines how success will be measured, and provides a governance framework for monitoring and evaluating the empowerment achievements of Rand Water.