Mar 13, 2024 MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, Martlé Keyter, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens
MISA Comment - Water resources must be protected
Big parts of Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and the economic capital of the country, have been left without water, some entering the 11th day. This was after a power outage at the Eikenhof pump station resulted in water interruptions almost two weeks ago. Authorities blame high consumption and low water levels for dry taps amidst the current heatwave. Some residents who got water from the water tankers provided, complained about diarrhoea afterwards.
Martlé Keyter, Chief Executive Officer: Operations of MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, says the past two weeks is a taste of what awaits all of us if we don’t start protecting our water resources. Across the country 46% of drinking water is classified as “unacceptable” and scores of towns and cities have substantially declined in the last decade. The latest Blue Drop report shows a decrease in quality drinking water across South Africa.
“South Africa's rainfall is unpredictable and common periods of drought limits water resources even further. Although we see the impact of global warming, very little is being done to prevent pollution of our rivers and streams, not even to mention our dams,” says Keyter.
MISA is determined not to be just a voice advocating to protect our water sources, but also playing its part by taking action.The Union’s staff will once again partake in a clean-up project of Loop stream in the Kenmare Kloof, which runs over the waterfall in the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. This is the second clean-up within months organised by the Kenmare community to save this highly polluted stream because local municipalities do nothing.
“This is a disaster waiting to happen because local municipalities don’t act on issues that is vital to the environment. 2023 was officially the hottest year on Earth. There is no more hiding away from the reality of climate change,” says Keyter. The Kenmare Kloof Clean-up will start on Friday 15 March 2024 at 10:00 at the Manie Mulder Adventure Centre at Amaryllis Dr, Roodekrans, Roodepoort.
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