Play your part to save water
SANDOWN - Sunlight 2in1 and the Department of Water and Sanitation are going on a roadshow to educate South Africans about saving water.
Sunlight 2in1 in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation and Coca-Cola Beverages has launched a campaign to educate South Africans about the importance of saving water in the midst of the country’s current water crisis.
Eldest grandchild of the late Nelson Mandela, Ndileka Mandela, delivered the keynote address at the launch of the initiative in Sandown, urging South Africans to work together to reduce water usage.
“I grew up in a rural town in the Eastern Cape and know what it’s like to live without water. Cape Town’s water crisis was a real wake-up call for me. We always thought the problem of scarce water resources was exclusive to the rural areas, but the crisis is far greater,” said Mandela.
She urged individuals to pledge to shower less, close dripping taps and get on board with corporate projects to save water. “It is an urgent and critical issue that needs to be dealt with.”
Sunlight is running a roadshow across the country to educate South Africans to become a #WaterSmartNation @Sandton_News @Sunlight_ZA
— Sarah Koning (@SarahKingon) February 27, 2018
Sputnik Ratau of the department of water and sanitation says the department needs to see the capacity in the water sector to implement change @Sandton_News #WaterSmartNation pic.twitter.com/G28BLRGsyX
— Sarah Koning (@SarahKingon) February 27, 2018
Veteran SABC broadcast journalist Peter Ndoro led a panel discussion at the launch between Mandela, Sunlight brand manager Justine Agnew, the head of communications at Coca-Cola Wendy Thole-Muri and spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Sputnik Ratau.
Ratau acknowledged that it is the responsibility of the department to plan ahead and develop working relationships with municipalities across the country to improve infrastructure and water quality.
“The drought has necessitated that we engage with partners like Sunlight 2in1 who are committed to engaging the nation through a national road show that will empower and educate us all on how we can improve our household water consumption, whether or not we have a limited supply,” said Ratau.
Mandela said that the lack of effective leadership and accountability in the department over the last four years has aggravated the problem.
Ndileka Mandela discusses the water crisis in SA emphasising the importance of citizens conserving water @Sandton_News #WaterSmartNation pic.twitter.com/BXlBwWNK7m
— Sarah Koning (@SarahKingon) February 27, 2018
Thole-Muri said that Coca-Cola has invested in water-smart technology that has seen them reduce water consumption by 30 per cent over the last six years, resulting in many litres of water being saved.
“When individuals, government and corporates pool all their efforts to bring about change, the whole is worth so much more than the sum of its parts,” said Thole-Muri.
Sunlight’s roadshow will run across the country reaching 700 000 people, culminating in a World Water Day Active Citizenship event on 22 March in Cape Town.
All the panellists encouraged the public to play their part in moving South Africa forward to become a more water-smart nation.
What are you doing to save water? Share your ideas on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page.
