Cape
24 March 2006
The Western Cape began Water Week celebrations through events dated as early
as 20 March 2006. The main Ministerial launch event will be held in Piesang
Valley, Plettenberg Bay, on Monday, 27 March 2006. This yearâs theme, âWater
for Growth and Developmentâ seeks to highlight the following:
* Create awareness of the processes towards realising the constitutional
right of all South Africans to have access to water. The allocation of water to
previously disadvantaged South Africans, through the Water Allocation Reform
Programme (WAR) is included in this yearâs educational and awareness campaign.
The WAR programme will assist the Department to ensure that water is allocated
in a fair and equitable manner that will address both gender and race
imbalances in water use.
Water Allocation also compels the Department to review and streamline the
licensing process in furthering goals to ensure that everyone can participate
more equally in the economy by ensuring that historical disadvantaged
individuals (HDIs) and the poor participate in the management of water
resources.
The illegal use of water in a water scarce region also comes under serious
scrutiny. It is important that water users have the capacity to use their water
productively, efficiently and responsibly.
Water is used illegally, when:
* A user has not been authorised (under the 1998 Acts) to use water.
* A person who has never irrigated begins to irrigate without applying for
and receiving a license
* A user whose consumption exceeds the registered consumption.
* Building on existing campaigns around sanitation and hygiene (the wash
campaign). This effort began with the Sanitation Week campaign (6 -10 March
2006) encouraging personal hygiene to prevent water borne diseases. Around four
billion cases of diarrhoea are recorded worldwide each year, claiming nearly
two million young lives every year.
* Ensuring to the cleanliness and the integrity of water sources and
outlets. The Department has released various reports on the state of key rivers
(for livelihood and economic reasons) in the region. This term the state of the
Olifants / Doorns Rivers report will receive attention and will be availed at
the regional launch event in Piesang valley, Plettenberg Bay.
* Drought stricken parts of the region (Plettenberg Bay and Laingsburg) will
host the two main regional events for this year. These events are purposed to
review methods used to save water as well as encourage business industry and
the broader communities to use this scarce resource sparingly.
Partners driving the campaign in the region were informed about the
extension of the campaign (20 - 31 March 2006) and were able to adjust events
accordingly. However, other events with major financial implications as well as
those targeting special schools have gone on as scheduled. Please see the
regional events list available on the Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry
(DWAF) website at http://www.dwaf.gov.za/Events/WaterWeek/2006/
The water week campaign is to âhit the streets throughout the regionâ via
road shows at key commuter points, door to door campaigns and public meetings.
Sufficient audio visual material to compliment Gazebos and some schools
outreach campaigns will also be availed.
The launch event will be held in conjunction with Bitou Municipality.
Venue: Piesang Valley Community Centre
Time: 10h00
Media is invited to attend.
For more information call:
Nandi Mgwadlamba
Cell: 082 909 3493
Issued by: Ministry for Water Affairs and Forestry
24 March 2006
