Irrigation expert Professor Sylvester Mpandeli, an alumnus of the University of Pretoria (UP), recently received the World Heritage Irrigation Structures Award at the ninth Asian Regional Conference and Exhibition in Sydney, Australia. It was awarded by the International Executive Council (IEC) of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) in recognition of the Douglas Weir irrigation system in the Northern Cape.

Prof Mpandeli is the Vice-President of ICID and the Chairman of the South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (SANCID), and Executive Manager responsible for the Water Utilisation in Agriculture at the Water Research Commission. He also chairs different strategic advisory bodies across the globe, he  is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Venda and was recently appointed as an Extraordinary Professor at the Tshwane University of Technology for five years.

He submitted the award application in February 2024. It outlined how the Douglas Weir irrigation system was designed and constructed, and the objectives of the system.

“China has won this award 45 times, India won it more that 25 times, and Italy about 6 times – I realised that I needed to do something to bring it home in 2024,” says Prof Mpandeli, who holds a master’s in Irrigation and Agronomy from UP. “I asked around and was told that since South Africa has been part of this international organisation, no one has done it. I knew I had to sacrifice my weekends and nights in order to gather more knowledge and information for my entry.”

He says when the emails came through that South Africa would be awarded, he couldn’t believe it, and had to read the email at least three times.

“I read the email again and realised that indeed it was true – we had won! Prof Mpandeli says. “This award is not about me; it’s about putting South Africa out there. And we are doing it again next year. The next submissions are due in June 2025, and I am already working on my next application. I hope South Africa takes the number one spot in these awards. Mark my words – it is going to happen, because I am working with the best experts in the country to gather the relevant information for the application. I’m grateful to my colleagues who played a role in making this a success.”

Prof Mpandeli obtained his first honours degree in Horticulture in 1998 from UP, and a master’s in Irrigation and Agronomy (now phased out) in 2001 under the supervision of Prof John Annadale of the Department of Plant Production and Soil Sciences. In 2002, he did a second honours degree at UP in Land Use Planning (now called Land Use Management and Land Development) and later enrolled for a PhD in Climatology at the University of the Witwatersrand.

During his master’s degree, he formed part of a student exchange programme, and spent some time at Oklahoma State University in the US.

“It was my first time outside South Africa,” Prof Mpandeli says. “When I was in the US, I learnt a lot about issues related to climate change, how to monitor automatic weather stations, about issues related to agriculture water management, irrigation and more.”

He notes that he got the best mentorship at UP, and that because he hails from humble beginnings that grounded him, he grabbed any opportunity that was presented to him with both hands.

“One thing I appreciate about UP is that they will groom you if you’re willing to learn and put in more effort,” he says. “If you get proper training, you’ll match anyone across the globe, because the training and the availability of resources at UP are amazing. I was given the best foundation which is why I’m regarded as the international experts across the globe today.”

Prof Mpandeli has authored and co-authored more than 300 publications, including scientific papers, books, conference proceedings, chapters, popular articles and technical reports. In fact, a paper written by colleagues at UP on the water-energy-food nexus confirms that of the 10 best authors writing on this issue across the globe, Prof Mpandeli is number three.