South Africa: Sanitation department calls for prevention of water pollution during Mandela Day

The Department of Water and Sanitation in the Eastern Cape reiterated its pleas to Nelson Mandela Bay Metro residents to use water sparingly while also calling for communities to prevent the pollution of water sources. 

This is as President Cyril Ramaphosa commemorated International Nelson Mandela Day in the Metro where he spent the day with Minister Senzo Mchunu, Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Councillor Eugene Johnson, cleaning up the Swartkops River at Emlotheni Township in Veeplaas.

The Department, with the support of the office of the Presidency, has once again committed to working tirelessly to prevent taps from completely drying out while working collaboratively with the provincial government and several organisations, both NGOs and the private sector in the province.

Intervention efforts include the need for wise use of water and reduction of water demand, the early detection and repair of leaks (domestic and municipal), optimisation of groundwater use through the drilling and management of boreholes (where we have seen activities of the private sector, NGOs, and government through the Metro funded by COGTA), and water infrastructure being brough on stream like the upgrade of the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works funded by the DWS and done by Amatola Water.

“Second to drought and its effects, of which many of us have witnessed in the province and some parts of the country, water pollution poses a serious threat to water security in the country,” said Minister Mchunu.

Minister Mchunu said communities in the province and across the country should practice active citizenry by leading activities of cleaning up water sources. “We should just not do it because it is Mandela Day, but because we want to keep a clean and healthy environment and also to secure water supply where we live,” he said.

President Ramaphosa also addressed residents after cleaning up the Swartkops River and assured that the Department and the provincial government are doing their best to ensure water supply in the Metro and across the province.

Residents responded with loud cheers and a renewed hope of positive change to come in their community.

The river clean-up coincided with the Department’s Clear Rivers campaign which takes place in the month of July and is a clarion call of action to prevent the pollution of water. This year’s theme is “South Africa is a water scarce country, clean up and protect water resources”.