All South Africans are encouraged to actively engage in the yearly Clear Rivers campaign, which is organised by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in an effort to maintain clean and safe water supplies.
During Mandela Month in 2016, the Clear Rivers campaign was launched, encouraging people to spend 67 of their minutes cleaning up rivers, canals, streams, wetlands, and other water sources. The campaign’s goal is to promote responsible citizenship across the board by getting people involved in the cause of a pollution-free environment, which will boost the nation’s water security and water quality.
The theme for this year ‘s campaign is “South Africa is a water scarce country, clean up and protect water resources.”
Sputnik Ratau, the department’s spokesperson, claims that the Clear Rivers campaign is one of the department’s most significant initiatives. The campaign has urged everyone to work with the government to clean up all water streams throughout the nation, including businesses, civil society organisations, churches, and community members.
“This campaign is close to our heart as the department because it speaks to many issues that affect water quality and water security in the country. The pollution of water sources is dire and this scourge needs everyone involved as government can’t do it alone”, he emphasised.
In addition, Ratau says healthy water sources is paramount in the country as clean and quality water is not just a basic human right alone, but it is also a catalyst to the economic development. “Communities and livestock particularly stand a better chance of an improved quality of life when our rivers are clean and healthy. Agricultural community, the mining sector, fisheries amongst others benefit a great deal from healthy streams”, he added.
This year’s campaign hopes to achieve the following goals, among others: ecologically conscious neighbourhoods, clean rivers, and well-informed, educated neighbourhoods.
The Department of Water and Sanitation is again pleading with communities to take responsibility for preserving and protecting the rivers and to report any pollution to the DWS Hotline at 0800 200 200.