‘Freedom alone is not enough without light to read at night, without time or access to safe water or without the ability to catch fish to feed your family’.
These were the immortal words of our former president and icon, Nelson Mandela, whose life we celebrate this month.
Inspired by his legacy and his commitment to social justice, as young people we need to roll up our sleeves to work on various community projects across the country.
Among the initiatives we need to focus on are food and water security, as well as caring for our natural environment.
Recognising that today’s youth are the leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow, it is important that youth play their part in protecting our water resources.
Access to water is a huge problem for billions of people a cross the globe. This is a huge problem, and finding solutions for a problem of this magnitude demand many hands.
Therefore, working together with small groups of local community leaders, residents and youth-based organisations is imperative.
The quality of a river is a reflection of the way of life within a community through which it flows.
It is an indicator of the socio-economic conditions and environmental awareness and attitude of its users.
Everything that happens in a catchment area is reflected in the quality of the water that flows through it, because the results of human activity and lifestyle ultimately end up in rivers.
Healthy streams, wetlands and oxygen-filled river waters support all of life.
However, this may be significantly influenced by urbanisation, deforestation, damming of rivers, destruction of wetlands, industry, mining, agriculture, energy use, and accidental or thoughtless water pollution.
As the human population increases, there is an increase in pollution and catchment destruction.
Therefore, a person who owns, controls, occupies or uses the land is responsible for preventing pollution of water resources, or take responsibility to correct the effects of pollution.
It is for this reason that the Department of Water and Sanitation connects South Africans to their sources of water, which is crucial for a water-secure future.
The annual Clear River Campaign asks citizens to clean up rivers and water ecosystems as part of dedicating their 67 minutes of goodwill during Mandela Month.
It requires a collective, proactive effort, actively engaging communities, fostering volunteerism and creating ongoing awareness and education on protecting our water resources, including rivers, streams, wetlands and other ecosystems.
Hence, young people can and must play an active, leading role in protecting and improving the environment.
