The Department of Water and Sanitation celebrates the “Clear Rivers Campaign” every year during the month of July as part of Mandela Month celebrations.

This is a time when all the citizens of the world are expected to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to goodwill activities as part of celebrating the life of this great icon.

The Clear Rivers Campaign was initiated in 2016 and calls on all South Africans to at any time during the month of July adopt and clean a river, wetland, dam, canal or any freshwater resource as part of celebrating Mandela Month.

When rivers run dry, we are all reminded that water does not come from a tap but from rivers, wetlands and freshwater ecosystems. It is for this reason that the Clear Rivers Campaign theme for this year is Action Against Poverty.

In South Africa, both rural and urban communities depend on rivers for their livelihoods, as South Africa relies mainly on surface water as a resource; therefore healthy rivers are critical to cater for the cultural, and socio-economic development of communities.

Economically, communities that are dependent on rivers use plants that grow on the river banks as roofing material. Wetland vegetation can help economic development if it is harvested in a sustainable way.

The reeds and other wetlands vegetation are used to make baskets, mats, curtain blinds and handbags, thus encouraging economic activity.

Domestic benefits of healthy rivers are that they produce clean water for drinking, cooking, washing and swimming. Healthy fish from healthy rivers is an excellent source of food for these communities.

Communities and livestock using a healthy river stand a better chance of an improved quality of life.

Communities use clean and healthy rivers to do cultural and religious rituals like baptisms, meaning that healthy rivers serve as sacred places. It is only a collaborative effort and actively engaged communities that can help protect and conserve our water resources.

The campaign also seeks to create environment-friendly and conscious communities, who are well informed and educated about the importance of healthy and pollution-free rivers.

Let us keep our rivers, wetlands, streams and all freshwater ecosystems clean.