Mr Hanyani Lebese holds an MSc qualification in Environmental and Water Science from the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He has research interests in the areas of wastewater, climate change, water demand and use, water quality, and groundwater governance. Additionally, Hanyani Lebese is an associate lecturer at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), and part of the Earth Science Department for Integrated Water Resource Management programme (IWRM). Within the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) Environment & Health Research Unit, Hanyani plays a pivotal role in fieldwork coordination and laboratory work for the SAMRC’s Wastewater Surveillance and Research Programme, by tracking SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa, since 2021 – working as the project co-ordinator. Mr Hanyani Lebese is also a Community of Expect Practice (CEP) member on qualification development for Water Infrastructure Manager, and Water Liaison officer with LGSETA. Hanyani also formed part of a climate change project team in collaboration with the Water Research Commission (WRC) and was involved in wastewater research, as well as monitoring a water quality project, and scientific services of the City of Cape Town (CoCT) at the municipal level of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).