Govt urges citizens to look after SA’s critical water resources

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The Water and Sanitation Department is calling on all South Africans to look after the country’s critical water and environmental resources.

This comes as South Africa celebrates World Wetlands Day today.

The day marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

It was celebrated for the first time in 1997.

Department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa says, “The World Wetlands Day is an important day in the international environmental calendar. It aims to raise global awareness and create people’s understanding of the critical importance of wetlands.”

“The day also makes a call for the protection, restoration and preserving of this critical ecosystem, to ensure water quality, water security health and well-being,” Mavasa adds.

Residents of Mahikeng in the North West say there is a great need to create awareness of the importance of wetlands and their role in the ecosystem.

They say the wetlands should be protected.

One resident says, “I know wetlands but I really don’t know it’s important. I wish I can learn more about it.”

“We need educational awareness. We need to be taught about the role of wetlands so that we can also play a role in protecting them from things like pollution,” another resident adds.