Water and Sanitation on Western Cape Clear River Campaign initiative to mark Mandela Month

Healthy river system to honour the legacy of Madiba

The Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in conjunction with sector partners will host series of Clear River Campaign initiative to mark the Mandela Month. The Clear Rivers Campaign was initiated in 2014 following the call made by Government to citizens to look after the environment.

Ms Nomvuyiseko Tumana, DWS Western Cape Acting Director Water and Sanitation Services Support (WSSS) says the health of the rivers in the country is threatened by excessive use of the water and the riverbanks. “If we pollute the river in one place, we affect the condition of the river for a long distance downstream. A river performs functions such as the ability to clean itself best when it is healthy”. Says Tumana.

It is for this reason that the Department of Water and Sanitation connects South Africans to their sources of water and the natural infrastructure that are crucial for a water secure future. This is done annually, when South Africans are called to clean up rivers and water ecosystems, as part of dedicating their 67 minutes of goodwill, during Mandela Month. This is called Clear River Campaign.

The Clear River Campaign will take place in a form of clean ups across the rivers, streams, wetlands, and other water systems in the Western Cape until the end of July. The main launch event of the Clear Campaign will take place at Laurens River in Strand on 18 July 2022

Over the years, the Department has been mobilising all sectors of society to join hands in large numbers and go out to clean our rivers and streams and this year assume high levels of participation by stakeholders as the COVID-19 restrictions has been eased significantly.

Water is life, Sanitation is Dignity”

For more information, contact Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 082 874 2942

Source: Government of South Africa