World Water Day celebrations
Our country has experienced one of the most severe droughts in years and our province is no exception. As we all know the Free State is endowed in agriculture and the impact of this current drought has left our farmers devastated which has a direct impact on food prices and exacerbate job losses. Speaking on the matter, MEC Mashinini said “these are the direct results of climate change which is caused by distribution of water patterns that last for extended periods of time”.
It is for this reason that the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs will be celebrating World Water Day and Water Week to promote awareness amongst people about the importance and the need to conserve water.
On the 22nd March the World is celebrating Water Day and today on the 16th March, DESTEA, together with the Bloem Water and National Department of Water and Sanitation will be conducting water awareness campaigns at Smithfield in Mokare Local Municipality found in Xhariep District.
The campaign will highlight the following:
- Raise awareness around the need to conserve and protect water resources.
- Call upon citizens to ensure each person uses water wisely and sparingly at all times.
- Remind Free State citizens that the country is water scare and that water is a finite resource.
The Mohokare Local Municipality is one of the hardest stricken parts of the province by drought and during the campaign the officials will donate 5 litter bottled water to the affected communities.
To respond to the devastating effects of climate change, the department is currently undertaking the vulnerability and assessment study to establish which parts of the Free State are susceptible to climate change. The department is also planning a road show in the new financial year to educate Free State people about the natural phenomenon and develop the Free State Resilience against Climate Change.
For more information:
Kagisho Leteane
Cell: 073 614 0268
E-mail: leteanek@detea.fs.gov.za
Festy Nyamate
Cell: 083 340 8502
Email: nyamatef@detea.fs.gov.za
