Thulamela Makhado Adopt-a-River leads protection drive

LIMPOPO – Thulamela Makhado Adopt-a-River chairperson Pfarelo Ramugondo says the community-based organisation works voluntarily to conserve water resources and protect it from pollutants such as litter, nappies and other solid waste.

Ramugondo was speaking during a water quality monitoring visit at Matangari village on Friday.

She said the forum focuses on rehabilitating springs within its jurisdiction, conserving wetlands and implementing waste minimisation strategies. These include establishing waste collection stands, running awareness campaigns and mobilising local residents.

“We even visited the spring to showcase how important it is to rehabilitate springs, as it is a source of water we all depend on,” she said.

The forum wants to demonstrate the value of local springs to the community, she added.

Residents use the water daily for bathing, washing, laundry, spiritual and agricultural purposes.

The spring produces about 10 000 litres per hour and has never dried up. “We have not seen it drop to zero. The community can support our evidence,” she added.

Forum members are drawn from local communities and participation is voluntary, with no membership fee during recruitment periods. While residents often join during awareness campaigns, day-to-day activities are carried out by forum members.

Ramugondo said the site visit marked an important starting point, even though not all 10

5 villages have yet been reached.

She noted that the spring supplies water to surrounding villages, where shortages are worsened by ageing municipal infrastructure and growing populations.

The spring also holds cultural significance, where traditional knowledge helps preserve its condition.

Department of Water and Sanitation scientist Noloyiso Mbiza said Thulamela Makhado Adopt-a-River forms part of a national programme working with communities to protect, manage and rehabilitate water resources.

“Everyone is affected by water resources and everyone who uses water must take part in protecting them,” she said.

Mbiza added that the 1 000 Women initiative, launched in 2010 by the then Deputy Minister of Water Affairs, has been cleaning and protecting streams, springs, wetlands and rivers.

Testing has shown elevated phosphate levels at some springs, often linked to nearby long-drop toilets, she said.