LIMPOPO – With South Africa facing growing water scarcity, the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts has urged rural communities in the Vhembe district to protect natural springs as an important source of clean water.

Deputy Minister issues call to protect Vhembe’s springs

Swarts made the appeal during a visit to the Tshikhofokhofo Spring in Mavhola village near Vhufuli last Tuesday, where she was joined by Thulamela Mayor Athingozwidivha Rambuda.

The visit formed part of the department’s Thulamela-Makhado Adopt-A-River Catchment (TMAC) project, a community-based initiative focused on cleaning and protecting rivers, waterfalls and springs in the Thulamela and Makhado local municipalities.

Swarts said she had learnt that the springs provide a reliable source of clean water to communities around Mavhola, Ngwenani Hamapholi, Vhufuli and Tshitereke villages under the Tshivhase Traditional Council.

Tradition guards the spring

“We were told by the project leaders that they also use indigenous knowledge and cultural practices to protect the spring. Elderly women are entrusted with cleaning the spring, as tradition does not allow younger women to perform this ritual,” she said.

She expressed her appreciation after learning that the Tshikhofokhofo Spring has never run dry and said she hopes nearby communities will continue to benefit from the clean water it provides.

Swarts noted that many residents regularly collect water from the spring using buckets and bakkies because it remains a dependable source of water.

PPE handed to project volunteers

The visit formed part of efforts to raise public awareness about environmental conservation and encourage communities to participate in sustainable environmental projects.

During the programme, Swarts handed over personal protective equipment (PPE) to TMAC project participants and engaged with traditional leaders and representatives from national, provincial, district and local government on the importance of protecting water resources, planting trees and preserving natural ecosystems.

TMAC project leader Pfarelo Ramugondo welcomed the donation, saying the protective equipment arrived at a crucial time as members had previously relied on old household items while carrying out their work.

A project born from crisis

Ramugondo said the project was established 16 years ago after repeated water shortages in her village prompted her to revive and protect the spring that had served as a reliable water source for previous generations.

She said the project continues to educate surrounding communities on the importance of protecting the Tshikhofokhofo Spring, which remains one of the area’s most dependable sources of clean water.