The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Judith Tshabalala, has expressed profound appreciation for women in water resource management as the Department, along with Msinsi Holdings wrapped-up Women’s Month commemoration on Tuesday, 29 August 2023.
Speaking during a ceremony organised by Msinsi Holdings, a subsidiary of uMngeni-uThukela Water in Pietermaritzburg, Deputy Minister Tshabalala took stock of the invaluable role women continue to play in water conversation and the prevention of water pollution in their communities.
“Women have always been at the forefront of speaking up and standing tall when such is required. The fact that as government we are dedicating a month to acknowledge the great strides that women continue to make in society, bears reference to how powerful we are,” said Deputy Minister Tshabalala.
Addressing hundreds of women who work for Msinsi Holdings and mandated to implement pollution control and biodiversity management at more than ten dams located across the KwaZulu-Natal province, Deputy Minister Tshabalala was stern in her remarks when calling out women who are not supportive of each other.
“My heart breaks to the core when I see women who cannot stand each other and support each other. This is not how we are raised, and it should not be how we choose to live. Please can we be a little kinder to each other,” she implored.
Meanwhile, Msinsi Holdings Managing Director, Ms Mbali Ndlovu spoke proudly of women who are part of a team responsible for the implementation of water resource management strategies which includes pollution control at one of the province’s largest dams, Albert Falls, as well as the Nagle, Hazelmere, Inanda and Spring Grove dams amongst others.
“I cannot over emphasise how proud and honoured I am to work with such great women. You all are very close to my heart, and this is because of your contribution to ensure that water resources in the province are preserved, protected and kept in pristine condition,” Ndlovu said.
Msinsi Holdings was established by uMngeni-uThukela Water Board in 1992 as Shongweni Resources Reserve. In 2014 the entity became a state-owned company, wholly owned by uMngeni-uThukela Water, and now trades as Msinsi Resorts and Game Reserves.
The company derives its mandate from the National Water Act 36 of 1998 and is responsible for water resources management, responsible for the management of dams on behalf of uMngeni-uThukela Water and those that are managed by uMngeni-uThukela Water on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation.
It is also responsible for catchment management as an implementing agent for the roll out of interventions, plans and programs designed and developed in collaboration with uMngeni-uThukela Water. These include water conservation and demand management strategies, municipal sewer discharges monitoring, repair and maintenance working closely with the sewer infrastructure working group as well as illegal sand mining working with Umgeni-uThukela water operations and security services, amongst others.
Concluding her conversation with the women in water resource management, Deputy Minister Tshabalala assured that she will ensure that women in the sector are uplifted and empowered to enable them to contribute equally the economy of the country.
For more information, contact:
Wisane Mavasa
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 060 561 8935
E-mail: mavasaw@dws.gov.za
