Stop polluting our rivers, urges Hluhluwe women’s co-op

Mothers must refrain from polluting public areas and rivers by dumping used nappies.

This was the sentiment of Mabuyi Manqele, one of the women involved in a programme that seeks to prevent river pollution and environmental conservation under Big 5 Hlabisa Municipality.

Manqele said they are experiencing huge challenges while performing their duties.

“Everywhere we find used [nappies]. Mothers do not use designated dustbins, they dump their used [nappies] in flowing rivers and on river banks. This could spread illness because some residents fetch water from these rivers for their consumption,” she said.

Manqele was speaking during the handover of tools to various women’s co-operatives at the Nompondo sport ground, hosted on Tuesday by Big 5 Hlabisa Mayor Comfort Khumalo.

“This problem has to be addressed immediately and it must stop as it puts other people’s lives in danger. Our job is to make all our areas clean which helps resuscitate the local economy, especially in the tourism sector. It also protects the environment.

“These machines will help us separate recyclable garbage and that which needs to be burnt,” said Manqele.

This challenge was echoed by Inkosi of the Khiphinkunzi clan in Nquthu, Inkosi Thathezakhe Ngobese, who suggested that mothers need to go back to using cloth nappies.

“This problem is everywhere, our town in Nquthu is filthy and smells because of the same problem. Used [nappies] are dumped everywhere.

“I think the government should step in and stop the use of [disposable nappies], which would force people to use the old-style reusable nappies,” said Inkosi Ngobese.

Mayor Khumalo said the handover was to assist in the upliftment of the community to fight hunger as the country faces high unemployment rates.

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