As Women’s Month draws to a close, Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, Judith Tshabalala, has taken stock of the invaluable role women continue to play in water conservation and the prevention of water pollution in their communities.
“Women have always been at the forefront of speaking up and standing tall when such is required. The fact that as government we are dedicating a month to acknowledge the great strides that women continue to make in society, bears reference to how powerful we are,” Tshabalala said.
Tshabalala made the remarks during a community engagement geared towards women in water resource management, held at Albert Falls in Umgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.
As part of the government's activities to celebrate Women’s Month, the Deputy Ministers for Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo and Tshabalala, led a Women in Water Resource Management public engagement, to spell out interventions targeted at achieving women economic participation and job creation in the water sector.
The public engagement, which was held in partnership with Msinsi Holdings, a subsidiary of the newly formed Umngeni-uThukela Water, included a hand over of a Canoe Trailer to the Thulani Mbanjwa Academy.
During the engagement, the Deputy Ministers along with the Msinsi Holdings Board Members, engaged members of the Thokozani community and surrounding areas, on matters related to water conservation and interventions rolled out to address water scarcity concerns in the area.
Addressing hundreds of women who work for Msinsi Holdings, and mandated to implement pollution control and biodiversity management at more than 10 dams located across KwaZulu-Natal Province, Tshabalala committed to ensure that women in the sector are uplifted and empowered to enable them to contribute equally to the country’s economy.
She also called out women who are not supportive of each other, saying her heart breaks to the core when she sees women who cannot stand and support each other.
“This is not how we are raised, and it should not be how we choose to live. Please can we be a little kinder to each other,” Tshabalala said.
Msinsi Holdings Managing Director, Mbali Ndlovu commended women who are part of a team responsible for the implementation of water resource management strategies, which includes pollution control at one of the province’s largest dams, Albert Falls, as well as the Nagle, Hazelmere, Inanda and Spring Grove dams, amongst others.
“I cannot over emphasise how proud and honoured I am to work with such great women. You all are very close to my heart, and this is because of your contribution to ensure that water resources in the province are preserved, protected and kept in pristine condition,” Ndlovu said.
Msinsi Holdings was established by uMngeni-uThukela Water Board in 1992 as Shongweni Resources Reserve. In 2014 the entity became a state-owned company, wholly owned by uMngeni-uThukela Water, and now trades as Msinsi Resorts and Game Reserves.
The company derives its mandate from the National Water Act 36 of 1998 and is responsible for water resources management, responsible for the management of dams on behalf of uMngeni-uThukela Water and those that are managed by uMngeni-uThukela Water on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation.
It is also responsible for catchment management as an implementing agent for the roll out of interventions, plans and programs designed and developed in collaboration with uMngeni-uThukela Water.
These include water conservation and demand management strategies, municipal sewer discharges monitoring, repair and maintenance working closely with the sewer infrastructure working group, as well as illegal sand mining working with Umgeni-uThukela water operations and security services, amongst others. – SAnews.gov.za
