George Adriaan Ekama OMS FRSSAf (17 June 1949 – 19 February 2023) was a Dutch–South African civil engineer who was an expert on wastewater treatment.
[1] After completing his bachelor's degree, he repaid his bursary by working for several years; he was employed by the contractor that was building the container quay at the Cape Town Harbour.
[1] At the same time, he took evening classes, and in that context he met Gerrit Marais, a professor at the University of Cape Town who became his mentor.
[1][2] Upon the completion of his work contract, Ekama returned to the University of Cape Town full-time as a master's student.
[1] At the University of Cape Town, Ekama joined and later led the Department of Civil Engineering's highly acclaimed Water Research Group.
[1] In January 2023 in Stellenbosch, the 8th IWA Water Resource Recovery Modelling Seminar featured a gala dinner in his honour.
On Freedom Day in 2013,[6] President Jacob Zuma admitted Ekama to the Order of Mapungubwe, granting him the award in silver for:His excellent research that has provided innovative solutions to enhancing and improving wastewater treatment.