My name is Koleka Cornie Makanda. I work for the Department of Water and Sanitation as a Water Resource Protection Scientist in Pretoria, under the Chief Directorate: Water Ecosystems Management. I am currently a PhD student registered with the University of the Western Cape within the Department of Earth Sciences in the program in Environmental Water Sciences [EWS]. My research interest lies within the field of water resources protection, especially surface water resources, investigating the role of resource-directed measures in policy implementation, monitoring, and evaluation towards effective and efficient water resources management practice. As a water-scarce and economically-developing country, located in a semi-arid region, South Africa is experiencing several water resource challenges related to water quality deterioration and availability, thus posing a threat to socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. Therefore, water resources protection to ensure water resources security and sustained environmental integrity is fundamental for the country, hence the research interests. I hope to complete my PhD by the year 2023, and in the long term I want to conduct research and continue providing scientific advice on policy development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for sustainable water resources utilization and ecosystem protection.