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The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr David Mahlobo has sent out an emphatic plea to South African residents to use water sparingly and stop the pollution of the resource amid persisting effects of Climate Change, impacting on water supply in many parts of the country.

Deputy Minister Mahlobo was speaking during a Journey of Water Reunion Dinner organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Kramerville, Sandton on Wednesday night, 01 June 2022. 

Supported by Deputy Minister Dikeledi Magadzi along with WWF South Africa senior officials, Deputy Minister Mahlobo said that Climate Change was no longer a phenomenon anticipated to show its effects in the future, however, a reality hard felt by the majority of South Africans and citizens across the world now. 

“We can no longer say Climate Change is upon us, it is here, and we are all experiencing it. We have all witnessed the unfortunate and heart rendering floods in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of North West as well as the dire effects of drought in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro in the Eastern Cape province,” he said. 

“South Africa is a water scarce country, and we all need to pull our weight to protect this scarce and precious resource, all of us. Yes, it is the mandate and the responsibility of government to ensure consistent water supply for all, but we cannot do so if we still have business and individuals who continue to pollute the resource senselessly,” said Deputy Minister Mahlobo.

He sent out a stern warning to polluters saying that the Department will not hesitate to apply the polluter-pays principle where it is found that water is being polluted and thus affecting supply to communities. 

Also speaking during the Reunion Dinner which saw a number of media personalities who pledged their support to both WWF and the Department to help raise awareness about the importance of water conservation, WWF Water Source Areas Manager, Samir Randera- Rees shared his experiences of being a part of the journey of water campaign since 2013. 

The campaign, which seeks to raise awareness that water does not come from a tap has in the past attracted the attention of members of the public to journey through streams in order to understand the value of water. 

Randera- Rees emphasized the need for behavioural change and collaborative efforts to help preserve water, while putting put up his hand to make the change in his environment. 

 “No single entity can sort out water challenges faced in the country alone, we all need to make those changes and make those changes now. It is up to us to ensure that we do this not only for ourselves but for generations to come,” he said. 

Deputy Minister Mahlobo’s address was titled: “The importance of water conservation in South Africa” and galvanised support from the private sector, business and civil society. 

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation