I wouldlike to acknowledge the presence of:
Dr Sean Phillips, the Director-General of the Department,
Senior Managers in the Department,
Mmebers of the media, those present here today and those on virtual platforms –
And all those South Africans watching,
A very good morning to you all!

Almost 30 years ago, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the “Earth Summit” took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 3 to 14 June 1992. The Earth Summit produced a broad agenda and a new blueprint for international action on environmental and development issues that would help guide international co-operation and development policy in the twenty-first century. It is at this Summit that 22 March each year from 1993, was declared “World Water Day”. The aim was to bring the water agenda to the fore and remind governments across the globe of their responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to clean water.

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