South Africans must do more to save water. That’s the call from Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Ms Buyelwa Sonjica as the country gears up to celebrate National Water Week (15 to 21 March 2010).
Water Week is an annual campaign that mobilises citizens to appreciate the value of water as a scarce natural resource and this year it focuses on the important aspect of water conservation and demand management. Other important objectives of the campaign include the following:
* Educating the public about their responsibility in water conservation initiatives
* Raising awareness around the need to protect and conserve the country’s water resources
* Highlighting the contribution that water makes to social and economic development
* Re-emphasising the important role water plays in sustaining all forms of life in South Africa and the linkages between water services, water resource management, water quality management and water conservation and water demand management.
President Jacob Zuma reminded South Africans during his State of the Nation address that South Africa is not a water rich country and thus called on all of us to change our attitudes and behaviour towards the way we use water in households, industries and in agriculture.
South Africa is among the 30 driest countries in the world and as such water is a scarce commodity that is finite in nature. Currently the water sector is faced with many challenges among these is the ageing infrastructure, drought conditions in some parts of the country, water losses, illegal water use and pollution.
As part of the programme to celebrate Water Week, Minister Sonjica will visit the Eastern Cape to mark the launch of National Water Week 2010. The event will be hosted jointly with the OR Tambo district municipality and the King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality.
This event will take place at King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality, Umtata in the Eastern Cape.
Date: Monday, 15 March 2010
Time: 10h00 to 13h00
Venue: FNB rotary stadium, Ngangelizwe Township, Mthatha
Theme: “Together We Can Save More Water”
The key focus of the event will be to announce the appointment of at least 225 community water conservation field workers for 24 months and 75 community members who would also be employed for the clearance of alien invasive plants on the Mthatha River under the Working for Water programme.
The Premier of the province, Mrs Noxolo Kiviet, several other MECs, mayors of OR Tambo District and King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipalities (respectively) and other high profile dignitaries will be in attendance.
For further information please contact:
Mandi Zenzile
Tel: 043 604 5500
Cell: 082 883 5293
Issued by: Department of Water Affairs
11 March 2010
Source: Department of Water Affairs (http://www.dwaf.gov.za/)
