The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in collaboration with the Department of Water and Sanitation as well as Nature Speak and Responds hosted their fifth citizen science training workshop on July 17 at Orlando West.
The workshop was meant to empower the community with information about aquatic ecosystem conservation.
It was also aimed at preserving the aquatic ecosystem and honouring traditional healing practices.
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The initiative promotes the conservation of diverse biodiversity and ecological infrastructure which is important for the functioning of the ecosystem, supporting livelihood, and enhancing the well-being of both the people and nature.
Traditional healers and residents of Orlando and surrounding areas were part of the two-day workshop to support the learning process.
Ayanda Maskiti who works as a Sangoma trainer or Gobela from Alexandra was one of the traditional healers who were part of the workshop.
“This event is so important because as people we can’t live without water, therefore, we should take care of our water streams and nature.
“We should also remember that nature can live without us but we cannot live without it, as traditional healers we need both the water and nature to heal people,” said Maskiti.
“This programme is very helpful; it gives us so much knowledge and provides us a platform to engage with different departments.”
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Globally, aquatic ecosystems are under threats such as pollution that is caused by human beings which affects climate change.
In response to such challenges, SANBI, Nature Speaks and Responds, and the Department of Water and Sanitation acknowledges the importance of incorporating traditional healing practices with scientific knowledge.
Dr Oscar Esbie, the Provincial District Secretary for Gauteng commended the success of the event.
“Such events are extremely important because they bring about essential knowledge. The entire environment is utilised the most by traditional health practitioners, so it would be an added advantage to have scientific knowledge in terms of how to benefit yourself from the river and that’s where such programmes come in,” Dr Esbie said.
The workshop was in line with some of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, including quality education and clean water and sanitation.
Noloyisa Mbiza from the Department of Water and Sanitation educated residents about the importance of keeping rivers clean for the safety of everyone.
“When we have healthy rivers we have a healthy nation because healthy water is life. As traditional healers, we are directly affected by the dirtiness of rivers because that is our office and without clean rivers, patients will perish and without patients, there won’t be any income for us,” said Mbiza.
Participants later on the first day of the workshop indulged in the practical part of the programe where they went to Klipspruit River where samples were taken to analyse the state of the water.
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Gogo Nomsa Sibeko, a traditional healer and CEO of Nature Speaks and Responds commended the success of the programme.
“In the upcoming workshops, we are hoping to still achieve similar to exactly what we have been achieving this whole time, which is education for traditional healers to take care of nature,” said Sibeko.
In participating in the annual Mandela Day commemoration which takes place on July 18, participants led the way to the Klipspruit River to do a river clean-up.
