By OBAKENG MAJE
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in collaboration with Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality and its Local Municipalities, JB Marks Local Municipality, City of Matlosana, Maquassi Hills Local Municipality, Department of Education, Itireleng Zezeleni Community Based Organisation and Midvaal Water Company, participated in a three-day Public Education and Awareness Programme from the 21-23 February 2024, spreading water conservation messages and good health and hygiene messages to communities.
The Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa said, public education and awareness programme initiated was initiated by the department back in 2009. Mavasa said the initiative has been receiving positive response in the North West Province and it has mobilised action and change of behaviour towards wise water use and good hygienic practices.
“With South Africa recording approximately 480 millilitres of rainfall per annum, other countries record more or less 800-1 000 millilitres per annum, this implies that SA has lesser amount of water.
“Thus, the department will constantly educate the public to be prudent when using water because South Africa is still one of the driest countries in the world,” he said.
The Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana, James Tsolela said, he support the initiative and motivated Inyathela Primary School learners to start practising water conservation methods and good health and hygiene.
“As children are the future of this country, learners should incorporate all water conservation methods acquired from the Department of Water and Sanitation and report water leaks to their teachers and parents.
“We also encourage them to use a cup when drinking water, close taps when not in use, harvest rainwater and among other measures, use buckets when cleaning cars instead of a hosepipe,” he said.
The ward 16 councillor in JB Marks Local Municipality, Tshepiso Moalusi said with an increased rate of vandalism of the water infrastructure in the North West municipalities, learners should encouraged to teach the communities to conserve water and to protect their water infrastructure against vandalism.
“The campaign was also held in Tlokwe High School and further proceeded to Fikadibeng Primary School, kilometres away from Potchefstroom. The emphasis was on the demonstration on the seven steps on hand washing, and the demonstration enlightened school learners on proper way of washing hands with soap and water,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the commuters at the Klerksdorp terminus taxi rank said: “The practice of using one bucket to wash hands is unhygienic especially in funerals as germs are easily transferred from one person to the other, hence people always experience runny stomachs after funerals.
“Most people blame the meat they ate whereas it’s the virus from the contaminated shared water.”
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