Water Research Commission (WRC)
Public Entity · Economic Infrastructure and Development · reports to Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS)
The Water Research Commission funds and coordinates water-related research. It was established under the Water Research Act, 1971 (Act No. 34 of 1971).
It is funded principally by a levy on water use rather than by appropriation, which gives it a stable research funding base independent of the annual budget cycle. It commissions research through universities, science councils and consultancies rather than conducting most of it directly.
Its research areas cover water resource management, water use in agriculture and industry, water quality, sanitation, and water infrastructure. It also promotes technology transfer and the uptake of research findings by the sector. It reports to the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Audit record, 5 years
Financial highlights, 2024/25
- Total Revenue
- R481m
- Total Expenditure
- −R401m
- Total Assets
- R643m
- Total Liabilities
- R164m
Values in rand. Sparklines run oldest to newest and are scaled to each series, not to zero.
Leadership, 23 listed
- Chairperson
- Dr Rethabile Bonang Melamu
- Deputy Chairperson
- Dr Harrison Pienaar
- Board Members
- Mr Willem Bertram Baird Mr Jay Bhagwan Mrs Zama Portia Dlamini Prof Nnenesi Kgabi Ms Nkuli Mxenge Mayende Adv Rennette Mary Rosey Dr Tendai Sawunyama Ms Megan Schalkwyk Prof Aldo Stroebel
- Chief Executive Officer
- Dr Jennifer Molwantwa
- Chief Financial Officer
- Mr Fazel Ismail
- Senior Management
- Dr Shafick Adams Mr Jay Bhagwan Dr Stanley Liphadzi Ms Reshmili Lutchman Prof Sylvester Mpandeli Dr Mandla Msibi Dr Valerie Naidoo
- Communications Officers
- Ms Reshmili Lutchman Ms Shirley Maheso Ms Zama Zulu
Description written for this directory from the entity’s own published sources: www.wrc.org.za, www.gov.za