It has been said that people are our biggest resource. Humans’ creativity and ability to cooperate and innovate has brought us great technological advances, all in the name of problem solving.
The recent cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, which has resulted in widespread illness and over 20 deaths, brings home the critical importance of looking after our water resources and the need to harness the most knowledgeable and trustworthy people available to work together in the best interests of the whole.
Antony Turton, an international water expert who holds a professorship at the Department of Environmental Sciences at Free State University, resides on the South Coast and has given freely of his time, energy and knowledge to assist the local and national community to find ways to protect rivers, avoid pollution and ensure clean drinking water.
He has helped members of The Green Net, other community-based organisations including the Ugu Community Alliance, church groups, environmental conservancies and Rotary, as well as the general public – through media articles, radio and television interviews and podcasts – to understand the technical, legal, political, socio-economic and biological aspects of water management.
Turton recently engaged with Water Affairs Minister, Senzo Mchunu, which gives us hope.
More than ever before, active, informed citizens are playing an important role in defining the future.
If you would like to be added to The Green Net’s database or WhatsApp group, or if you’d like to tell us about your organisation, contact Helen 084 9872018.
Memory Grace (072 7612736) runs the Ugu Community Alliance and the Water Woes group; Hilton O’Dwyer (082 4933602) heads up the South Coast Water Action Group (SWAG) and is the community representative in the Ugu War Room. Turton may be contacted via www.anthonyturton.com.
We heard last week that Mayor Skhumbuzo ‘Zero’ Mqadi of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality has been deployed to Ugu.
We trust that he will reach out to technical experts and local community groups to find the most effective local strategies going forward.
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