Clearing our rivers for Mandela Day
Tata Madiba was also passionate about the environmental sustenance for a better future of all who leaves in it, with water sitting as a top priority because “Water is life”.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/2019/07/pexels-photo-2480807.jpeg)
18 July is a day to celebrate the iconic Statesman, former President “Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela”.
Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) saw a need to celebrate the day for citizens to heed the clarion call to participate in Clear River Campaigns across the country.
18 July a day declared Nelson Mandela International Day for a good will, but as South Africans we embrace the chance to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life for the whole of July.
Marcus Monyakeni , spokesperson for DWS said: “Apart from championing the rights of the voiceless and the oppressed in South Africa Tata Madiba was also passionate about the environmental sustenance for a better future of all who leaves in it, with water sitting as a top priority because “Water is life,”
“The Department of Water and Sanitation under the theme “Be the Legacy” is calling upon all citizens of Mzantsi to participate in the Clear River Campaign during the “67 Minutes of Mandela” global campaign. The water quality has been negatively impacted by the increasing pollutions in the rivers, streams and wetlands. This is caused by the communities leaving around the rivers and streams uncleaned and polluted. This is also worsened by the profit driven industries that pollutes our water resources as well as the municipalities that fail to abide by Green Drop Certification standards,” Monyakeni said.
Nelson Mandela once said: “We in South Africa have ourselves faced hard questions and had to make hard choices in this regard. We know that political freedom alone is still not enough if you lack clean water or access to it to irrigate your farm”. This gives everyone an opportunity to heed the call to action for making apositive imprint and change the world around them.With a Clear Rivers Campaign, the Department of Water and Sanitation is committed to sustaining a healthy water resource management together with all the citizens.
There is overwhelming need for water security, predominantly in the face of global climate change that affects our rivers.
Therefore, DWS will continue to make calls for a national and unified approach to protect our rivers, wetlands and broader catchments. This will result in people benefiting from the added-value products of healthy rivers and accessing clean water for basic human needs.