Date: 03/06/2011
Source: The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs
Title: SA: Mabudafhasi: Address by the Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, at the Buffalo adopt a river project event, King Williams Town

Programme Director

MECs present

Executive Mayors

Councillors

Traditional Leaders

Distinguished Guests

Officials from Provincial and National Departments

Ladies and Gentlemen

Molweni !!!!!

I am honoured to be here today to be part of community of Amathole District during the celebration of sterling work done by 100 women from this area. These women are cleaning the Buffalo River which is highly polluted. They are Patriots who decided to respond to our call for support to communities and interested stakeholders to partner with us in addressing the challenges facing our country.
 

South Africa, like many other countries in Africa, is faced with a huge challenge that is likely to become a future threat, if our water resources are not well managed, protected, used, conserved and developed in a sustainable manner. 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, 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.

Programme director allow me to elaborate briefly to Adopt a River project. It is aimed at creating awareness amongst South Africans of the need to care for our scarce water resources and to actively participate in the protection and management of our water resources whilst creating job and training opportunities.

I am proud to report that 595 job opportunities have been created through this project nationally as it is currently implemented in Limpopo, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and Free State which were the pilot provinces. 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 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, that include 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 behavioural changes and increased caring of rivers and environment in their respective communities.

This project has also boosted self esteem of women as they are able to provide food to their families and also that I have made an announcement during Budget Vote Speech on the 14 April 2011 that all the women involved in this project are Ambassadors. Ms Doreen Mandyundyu represented the Buffalo River women in Parliament on that day.

There is also positive feedback received from other stakeholders such as South African Police Service that since the women started working at the river the sites the incidents of crime at these places have gone down, because criminals are no longer able to utilize these sites for their criminal activities and criminal hideouts.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce that the project will continue for another 12 months, a budget of R2 million rands have been allocated. I am appealing to the Mayors, Members of Parliament, and Traditional Leaders to jointly adopt the Buffalo River and ensure that it is healthy. They are expected to do clean ups quite often, educate the communities, industries about negative impact of dumping waste in our rivers. Thus the signing of the pledge today to make a commitment on the latter.

In conclusion Programme Director allow me to thank

· All the Mayors, Municipal Managers, Water Board and all other stakeholders for the dedicated support provided during the implementation of this project, without you we wouldn’t have achieved this much.

· 100 women once more and say Igama lamakhosikazi Malibongwe, Educate a woman to educate the nation”.

· The officials of the Department for the excellent work and being Departmental Ambassadors to the Province and Municipalities, they went beyond expectation to make this project a success nationally. You make us proud.

WATER IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS, WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE MORE WATER!

I thank you!