South Africa has strengthened its international standing in irrigation and drainage heritage, securing four World Heritage Irrigation Structures awards and an international recognition for outstanding national committee performance at the 26th International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) International Congress in Marseille, France, on 14 October 2026.
On the picture: Prof Sylvester Mpandeli (middle) and Prof Sue Walker with the Best Performing National
Committee Award at the 26th ICID International Congress in Marseille, France, on 14 October 2026
The University of Venda (UNIVEN) celebrates this Distinguished Alumnus, Prof Sylvester Mpandeli, an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, who led the South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (SANCID) team that coordinated the successful submissions.
On the picture: The South African delegation, led by Prof Sylvester Mpandeli (2nd from right), holding
the WHIS awards during the awards ceremony in Marseille, France, on 14 October 2026
The four World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) awards recognised the Vaal Barrage System in Gauteng, Bulshoek Dam in the Western Cape, Upper Van Stadens Dam in the Eastern Cape and Nqweba Dam in the Eastern Cape. South Africa also received the 8th Best Performing National Committee Award for its outstanding contribution to advancing ICID’s mandate and mission.
WHIS recognises irrigation and drainage structures that are more than 100 years old and have made signifi cant contributions to agricultural development, engineering and sustainable water management. Established in 2012, the initiative preserves the historical and technical legacy of irrigation infrastructure while highlighting lessons for future water management.
All fi ve accolades were coordinated by SANCID under Prof Mpandeli’s leadership. He accepted the awards on behalf of the committee’s leadership in his capacity as SANCID Chairperson and ICID Vice-President Honoraire. This achievement builds on South Africa’s growing international recognition in irrigation heritage. The country received its fi rst WHIS award in Sydney, Australia, in 2024, followed by four awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2025. With the four additional WHIS awards secured in Marseille, South Africa has now received nine WHIS awards in total, all of which are included in the ICID Register of World Heritage Structures.
Competing against more than 40 countries, South Africa has consolidated its position as Africa’s leading recipient of WHIS awards and ranks among the world’s six leading countries in the programme, according to Prof Mpandeli.
Speaking from Marseille, Prof Mpandeli said the SANCID leadership had made it a priority to put South Africa on the global map by showcasing the country’s rich irrigation and drainage heritage. He reaffi rmed the committee’s commitment to identifying and profi ling historic canals, barrages, dams and other irrigation infrastructure through ICID platforms.
The achievement highlights the value of preserving South Africa’s engineering heritage while advancing knowledge and innovation in sustainable water management. It also refl ects South Africa’s contribution to international cooperation in irrigation and drainage.
UNIVEN’s Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Fulufhelo Netswera, congratulated Prof Mpandeli and the SANCID team on their outstanding international achievement.
“On behalf of the UNIVEN, I congratulate our Distinguished Alumnus, Prof Sylvester Mpandeli, and the entire SANCID team on securing these prestigious international recognitions for South Africa. This achievement refl ects the value of visionary leadership, technical expertise, and sustained commitment to advancing the heritage of irrigation and drainage. “We are proud of Prof Mpandeli’s continued contribution to his fi eld and his association with UNIVEN as an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture. His leadership demonstrates how expertise, collaboration and dedication can elevate South African knowledge and heritage on the global stage
“These accolades are a source of national pride and underscore the importance of preserving historic infrastructure while drawing lessons from it to address contemporary water-management challenges. We commend Prof Mpandeli and his team for fl ying the South African fl ag high in France and for bringing international recognition to the country’s rich irrigation heritage.”.
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University of Venda
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