South Africa’s cities face growing threats to their water resources, especially rivers, as rapid development and climate change undermine the health of water systems and the ecosystem services they provide. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to serious flood risks during extreme weather events.
Without effective river management, cities risk losing out on valuable financial, socioeconomic, human and ecological benefits. In contrast, well-managed rivers enhance the delivery of municipal services, improve adaptation capacity and boost resilience to climate shocks.
The eThekwini Municipality, which includes the city of Durban, is one of the first South African cities to take steps to protect and revitalize its rivers. Its work has become an example for others to follow, including Johannesburg, where WRI and partners are helping improve its water resilience.
What Did eThekwini Do To Build Water Resilience?
eThekwini’s rapid economic growth, intense urbanization and climate change have degraded its natural ecosystems. Many of its rivers and coastlines are affected by pollution, while its coastal forests and wetlands are being lost to housing development or invasive species.
In response to climate-induced environmental damage to communities and infrastructure, eThekwini Municipality launched South Africa’s first Transformative Riverine Management Program (TRMP) in 2020. With support from C40 City Finance Facility, eThekwini embarked on the long journey of transforming the management of its rivers and bringing them back to life. Through the TRMP — eThekwini has developed a high-level roadmap and business case for the rehabilitation and protection of its riverine assets.
eThekwini’s TRMP was the first to clearly link effective riverine management with the longevity of both natural and urban infrastructure and showed how every rand spent would yield 1.8 to 3.4 times in holistic benefits. eThekwini also created frameworks to guide climate adaptation and risk mitigation in specific river catchments using spatial planning and corridor management to protect residents and infrastructure.
Johannesburg Co-Develops Plan To Build Water Resilience
Through the Scaling Urban Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) project, WRI and the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) are working with local partners to restore the riverine areas of the Upper Jukskei River and enhance urban forestry. The consortium of local partners includes the City of Johannesburg, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Zutari, Johannesburg Inner City Partnership, Alexandra Water Warriors, GenderCC and Water for the Future.
Johannesburg, along with neighboring municipalities Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, has one of the region’s highest population densities and most degraded rivers (whose hydrological boundaries are shared between cities). The buildup of solid waste and debris, along with invasive alien plants, increases flood risk for the Jukskei River.
Through the SUNCASA project, Zutari is leading the development of a TRMP, which includes a riverine management program and business case, for the restoration of the Upper Jukskei River — highlighting the first 15-kilometer (9-mile) stretch from the start of the river in the city’s center to Alexandra.
Initial TRMP assessments indicate that neighborhoods like Alexandra present the greatest opportunity for intervention. Hydro-ecological and socioeconomic vulnerability assessments found that infrastructure and communities near Queen’s Wetland in Bez Valley and Alexandra — where flood plains have been transformed or encroached — are most at risk. The assessments highlight how Apartheid-era inequalities have left high-density, low-income neighborhoods especially vulnerable to climate, economic and social risks.
These insights, along with ongoing assessments, will inform the TRMP and business case for restoring the Upper Jukskei River in Johannesburg.
Sharing Knowledge Between Cities
In February 2025, WRI facilitated a knowledge exchange between four municipalities — eThekwini, Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni — to share lessons from the eThekwini TRMP and support other cities in developing their own programs.
The event drew stakeholders from local government, civil society, the private sector and non-governmental organizations. eThekwini shared insights on the processes and motivations behind the development of its TRMP, as well as mechanisms to ensure sustainability and implementation. Johannesburg also shared why it embarked on developing a TRMP and reported on progress to date.
Takeaways from the Exchange:
- Rivers cross borders: In Gauteng (one of nine provinces in South Africa), rivers flow in and out of different municipalities. It is important, particularly in this region, that local governments work together to address riverine management.
- Collecting learning accelerates progress: Sharing insights and knowledge across municipalities is essential for regional urban resilience.
- Shared responsibility: Local governments must work closely with all stakeholders — including all city government departments, civil society organizations, communities and the private sector — to drive action toward urban water resilience. Strong partnerships and communication channels create the enabling environment needed for greater impact.
What’s Next?
Over the next year, Zutari will conduct climate change risk and vulnerability assessments, a riverine management model and cost-benefit analysis to inform Johannesburg’s TRMP and the business case for restoring the Upper Jukskei River. Zutari and partners will also prepare an implementation framework and investment briefs to support the city in scaling up riverine management.
WRI will continue facilitating collaboration between Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni through the SUNCASA project and, together with IISD, will also support the city in structuring funding opportunities. This will help expand the TRMP approach to other river systems in Johannesburg and neighboring municipalities, building urban resilience through integrated catchment management.
To scale these efforts, WRI’s Green-Gray Infrastructure Accelerator aims to embed nature-positive approaches in urban development through policy instruments, a portfolio of green-gray infrastructure projects and innovative financing to deliver climate-resilient outcomes in Johannesburg.
A version of this article originally appeared on WRI.org.
Amanda Gcanga is Urban Water Resilience Country Lead for South Africa and Senior Urban Policy Analyst at WRI Africa.
Nikara Mahadeo is Nature-Based Solutions Associate for WRI Africa’s Cities program
Mulalo Mbedzi is Nature-Based Solutions Associate for WRI Africa’s Cities program.
