Building a
Community of Practice

Revitalizing the hydrology community in South Africa
Latest newsSAHS Conference 2024

Building a community of practice

 

Welcome to the South African Hydrological Society (SAHS) website. Our aim is to revitalize the hydrology community of practice in South Africa.

Revitalizing Hydrology

The South African Hydrological Society (SAHS) was founded in 2022 following a Water Research Commission hosted dialogue in 2021 aiming to revitalize the hydrology community of practice in South Africa.

Our Council

We have elected SAHS Council Members, drafted a new constitution which was introduced at our first general meeting in October 2022, and we are building on the legacy of past hydrological initiatives, such as SANCIAHS (South African National Committee for the International Association of Hydrological Sciences).

Conferences & Community

The Inaugural SAHS Conference was held from 10-12 October 2022 in Gauteng. This biennial hydrology conference has replaced the previous biennial SANCIAHS Symposia and will aim to continue to invest into student capacity development, as well as build the hydrology community of practice in South Africa.

About
SAHS

We are building on the legacy of past hydrological initiatives, such as SANCIAHS (South African National Committee for the International Association of Hydrological Sciences).

For many years, the hydrological sciences community in South Africa was represented by a dedicated, though relatively informal group known as the South African National Committee for International Association of Hydrological Sciences (SANCIAHS). The chairperson of SANCIAHS has been the SA national representative to the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and able to vote for IAHS Committees.

A main task of SANCIAHS has been to organise a biennial hydrology conference and these events have served to connect our community since the 1980s. SAHS represents a growth and formalisation of this effort. After consultation with many of you, it was recognised that there was a need and an appetite to have a formal society to strengthen our community and represent our interests. SAHS was officially constituted and launched in October 2022.

Meet the SAHS Council Members

Dr Tendai Sawunyama

Dr Tendai Sawunyama

President

Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency

Ms Louise Dobinson

Ms Louise Dobinson

Member

Buro Happold

Ms Nantale Nsibirwa

Ms Nantale Nsibirwa

Member

Zutari

Ms Kershani Tinisha Chetty

Ms Kershani Tinisha Chetty

Treasurer

University of KwaZulu-Natal

Mr Wandile Nomquphu

Mr Wandile Nomquphu

Member

Water Research Commission

Prof Denis Hughes

Prof Denis Hughes

Member

Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University

Dr Julia Glenday

Dr Julia Glenday

Secretary

South Africa Environmental Observation Network & Rhodes University

Prof Timothy Dube

Prof Timothy Dube

Member

University of the Western Cape

Dr Gabriel Lekalakala

Dr Gabriel Lekalakala

Member

Department of Water and Sanitation