Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, has called on all South Africans to reduce water pollution and use the resource sparingly.

This comes amid ongoing climate change effects, which have an impact on the country’s water supply.

Speaking during a Journey of Water Reunion Dinner organised by the World-Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature in Kramerville earlier this month, the deputy minister said that climate change is no longer a phenomenon anticipated to show its effects in the future, however, it is a reality mostly felt by the majority of South Africans and citizens across the world.

“We can no longer say climate change is upon us, it is here, and we are all experiencing it. We have all witnessed the unfortunate and heart-rendering floods in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of North West and the dire effects of drought in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro in the Eastern Cape province,” Mahlobo said.

Deputy Minister also said South Africa is a water-scarce country, and we all need to pull our weight to protect this scarce and precious resource.

“Yes, it is the mandate and the responsibility of government to ensure consistent water supply for all, but we cannot do so if we still have businesses and individuals who continue to pollute the resource senselessly.”

He further warned polluters, stating that the Department would not hesitate to apply the polluter-pays principle in areas where water is found to be polluted thus affecting the supply to communities.