Department Water Affairs Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi brought happiness to thousands of people in the Eastern Cape when she announced that an amount of R2 million has been allocated to the Adopt-a-River project to allow it to continue for another 12 months.
The Deputy Minister launched the Shixini and the Buffalo Adopt a River projects in the Eastern Cape on 2 and 3 June respectively. The launch of the Shixini project follows a request by Chief Dumalisile of the Amajingqi tribe in the Mbashe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape province to initiate the Adopt a River project in Shixini. A plan was developed to assist the community with the improvement of the condition of the Shixini River.
It will also assist with the socio-economic development of the area through construction of a weir for irrigation purposes, installation of 24 rain water harvesting tanks, capacity building of youth in the village on water conservation, water demand management and water purification and water treatment. The Deputy Minister joined community members and workers in assessing the current damage and pollution of the Shixini River by donning the safety boots and a hat to assist with the clean-up campaign.
Hundreds of school children and community members from the Willowvale area attended the launch of the event to learn how they can protect their water resources.
On Friday in King Williams Town, the Deputy Minister and Buffalo City Mayor, Zukiswa Ncitha joined hundreds of women wearing red work suits, hard hats and bandanas in cleaning a part of the Buffalo River catchment area.
Singing and laughter prevailed throughout the time the Deputy Minister assisted in plucking garbage and alien vegetation from the polluted stretch of the Buffalo River in King Williams Town.
The Adopt-a-River project is an initiative of the Department of Water Affairs and it aims to develop an increased awareness of South Africa’s water resources and increasing community participation in taking care of these resources and is currently running in Limpopo, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Free State and has created 595 jobs thus far.
Mabudafhasi said through the project, women have acquired skills in waste management, occupational health and safety, identification of alien weeds and herbicide application, water safety, snake handling, first aid, environmental education and life skills.
The overall objective of the project is to clean the Buffalo River and its immediate surroundings, from source to sea, as well as providing life skills training for the participating beneficiaries.
“The other direct benefit is that the health of rivers has improved drastically. The Buffalo River project employed 100 women from the rural poor communities around the 17 wards of Amathole District Municipality, including Buffalo City Municipality and Amahlathi Local Municipality, who are involved in the cleaning of solid waste and alien vegetation species along the banks of the Buffalo River.
“It has increased women participation in water resource issues and capacitated them to advocate for behavioral changes and increased caring of rivers and environment in their respective communities,” said Mabudafhasi.
She added that the project has also boosted the self-esteem of women as they are able to provide food for their families.
Amatola Water was appointed as the implementing agent for the project and the utility’s Institutional Support & Development supervisor, Nomnikelo Botha has been appointed as the Project Manager.
It is hoped that increased knowledge of water resources will develop into an active participation by stakeholders in contributing to environmental management, and ultimately result in better management and protection of our environment and, specifically, of scarce and precious water resources.
The project makes use of women beneficiaries, selected through the involvement of ward councillors, from areas closest to the river stretching from Stutterheim, through King William’s Town and Zwelitsha to East London.
“The project beneficiaries have been through basic training, which includes basic safety and health training, snakes and snake bite training and water safety and first aid training,” says Amatola Water, chief executive Nomonde Mnukwa.
The Adopt a River project is also aimed at bringing communities on board, and educating them on water resource management and the environment, in order for them to take full responsibility and to be able to make informed decisions.
Mabudafhasi reiterated that South Africa, like many other countries in Africa, is faced with a huge challenge that is likely to become a future threat if water resources are not well managed, protected, used, conserved and developed in a sustainable manner.
She said due to developmental needs, water demand is increasing rapidly but the amount of water remains the same.
“Currently, we are faced with challenges such as water wastage through leaks, polluted rivers, water quality etc. We all know that water is a catalyst for any development, without water there is no life, there will be no development, and there will be manifestation of poverty.
“In order to ensure that there is enough water in our country, we have embarked on various programmes such as Adopt a River, War on Leaks, 2020 Vision Programme and others,” said Mabudafhasi.
Source: Department of Water Affairs
The Adopt-a-River project launch in the Eastern Cape
