The Water and Sanitation Department is appealing to all South Africans to participate in the Clear River Campaign aimed at keeping rivers clean and protecting all water resources against pollution. 

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says there needs to be a collaborative effort between communities and the government to ensure water provision as South Africa remains a water scarce country. Her department has further noted drought relief measures implemented in areas such as the Free State's Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality.

The municipality made national headlines when Qwaqwa came to a complete standstill with schools and businesses shut down at the beginning of the year following the tragic death of an eight-year-old girl, Mosa Mbele, who drowned while fetching water at a river. This led Sisulu to allocate over R200 million and hundreds of water tanks to address the water crisis experienced in the municipality.

Whilst the department has applauded Sedibeng Water for the implementation of projects aimed at resolving the water crisis in the area, it is now calling on all citizens to lend a helping hand in the Clear River Campaign as part of their 67 minutes on Madiba Day.

The department has in a statement stated that given the many challenges faced in the area, the water board has "performed remarkably towards the successful implementation of the department's drought relief projects" and that the maintenance of water infrastructure and rehabilitation of boreholes is still underway.

OFM News