By Luzamo Sandlana
The Department of Water and Sanitation called on South Africans to honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy by dedicating at least 67 minutes to cleaning and protecting the country’s waterways. The Apies River in Pretoria was among the waterways identified for this year’s campaign. Years of sewage spills, industrial pollution and urban waste have contaminated the river, making it unsafe for human contact and threatening biodiversity, livelihoods and surrounding ecosystems.
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Jack Bloom led the clean-up event on Monday, 20 July. He was joined by TCTA representatives, including Chief Strategy Officer Pule Mothiba, as well as representatives from Rand Water, Plastics SA, the
City of Tshwane and environmental organisations. Dr Bloom said the partnership demonstrated a shared commitment to river conservation, environmental education and responsible waste management.
Held under the theme, “South Africa is a water-scarce country, clean up and protect our water resources,” the campaign aims to raise environmental awareness, encourage volunteerism and inspire communities to help safeguard the country’s limited freshwater resources.
“Our rivers are the lifeblood of our communities, our economy and our ecosystems. Their protection cannot be left to government alone. Every South African has a responsibility to prevent pollution, report illegal dumping and become an active custodian of our water resources,” said Dr Bloom.
Delivering a message of support, Mr Mothiba urged communities to recognise the wider effects of pollution on interconnected river systems. He also outlined TCTA’s role in the water sector and stressed the importance of protecting waterways such as the
Apies River.
“We must remember that this river is not a standalone river. It connects with other rivers in the country, including the Crocodile River, and ultimately ends up in the Indian Ocean. If we do not take care of it now, we will pay a hefty price at the end,” he told the gathering.
Mr Mothiba concluded by encouraging the participating organisations to support the Adopt-a-River campaign. The initiative empowers citizens to monitor river health and encourages communities to take an active role in conserving and sustainably
managing their waterways.
