Speech by MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza at the Gauteng Provincial World Wetlands Day (WWD).

23rd February 2012

It is a pleasure to address you in Dobsonville, Soweto, the birthplace of Tsietsi Mashinini, Khotso Seatlholo, and the home of liberation stalwarts like Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the late Walter and Albertina Sisulu. Today, we gather at the Dorothy Nyembe Environmental Education Centre, a centre named after a hero of our liberation struggle. A freedom fighter, who dedicated her life towards the emancipation and liberation of our people, so that on a day such as this, we, as South Africans from all walks of life, can gather to celebrate World Wetlands Day (WWD).

And as we gather today in South Africa to celebrate this day, we join nations of the world who also observed and celebrated World Wetlands Day on the 2nd of February, a month dedicated to wetland conservation.

It is therefore vital that as a nation, we celebrate World Wetlands Day to create awareness about the importance of wetland conservation and the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention of which our country, South Africa, is a signatory too, aims to foster wetland and biodiversity conservation, especially those wetlands of international importance.

The theme for WWD 2012 is “Wetland tourism: a great experience.” This theme reminds us that responsible wetland utilization supports tourism and people. It is indeed significant since the Ramsar Convention decided that 2012 should look at tourism from a wetland perspective.

And with job creation being one of the five (5) national priorities of Government, it fundamental that as a Province we utilize such occasions to highlight the importance of wetlands from a tourism, aesthetic perspective and the special benefits they bring to people.

Today, as we mark World Wetlands Day (WWD), we gather at one of Gauteng’s important tributary which is the Kliprivier (Klip River) wetland system. Klip River's wetland, which borders Lenasia, Soweto and other suburbs in the southern part of Johannesburg, plays a valuable role in improving the quality of water flowing through the system and into the Vaal River.

Ladies and Gentlemen, while we recognize the vital role our wetlands play, it is essential that we also direct our focus on the many threats they face. The Klip River system for instance, is faced with pollution, eutrophication, loss of peatlands due to erosion and this will exacerbate the impact of climate change as the environment will no longer be equipped with mechanisms to deal with the impact of climate change. Meaning, it is likely that much of the heavy metal pollution that has been stored in the peat for the past century will be released back into the water, with severe implications for downstream users and the Vaal Barrage. And this, ladies and gentlemen, should be of great concern to us all.

Another concern, fellow compatriots, is the increased reed growth due to increased nutrient loads, which has led to the decline of bird species, which is a major draw-back to tourism.

And the most recent issue, is the decanting of acid mine water, that will further deteriorate the water quality on the system, which could result in dire consequences on the ecosystem goods and services provided by the system.

One such system is the Blesbokspruit Ramsar site, Gauteng’s only Ramsar site, that is still listed on the Montreux Record, due to the pollution that is taking place and eroding away its character and its ability to provide the vital ecosystem services.

Programme Director, wetlands are areas of rich biodiversity and support a range of species of birds, as such, wetlands can be used as bird viewing sites. And when done accordingly, wetlands can also generate opportunities for communities to trade local produced goods – such as traditional mates from bulrushes (ikhwani), sedges (incema). The phragnites reeds (imihlanga) and grasses associated with wetlands can also be used for roof thatching. And these are possible on this system.

Ladies and Gentle, allow me if you could, to make an analogy, so we truly understand and appreciate the role of wetlands. Wetland ecosystems, in a landscape, are like kidneys in our human bodies, they play a vital role in sustaining healthy watercourses which in turn have direct implications on the lives of people.

Our wetlands are vital in filtering pollutants and thus purifying water. They also regulating water flows, thus acting as sponges that store water and release it slowly; the results are the severity of the impact of droughts and floods are greatly reduced.

Ladies and Gentlemen, healthy ecosystems can also be tourism assets and contribute to local economic development if used sustainably. One of the best known stories in this regard, is Government’s Working for Wetlands Programme, which successfully combines the creation of thousands of job opportunities nationwide, with the rehabilitation of more than 800 wetlands, and hence protection of biodiversity. Another such programme is the Working for Water Programme that clears invasive alien plants from our catchments to improve water quality and supply, while also helping eradicate poverty by employing thousands of people.

I am delighted to indicate that Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) is part of these national initiatives. And making this a reality, has required an approach to conservation and biodiversity management which promotes social justice and puts people at the centre, while creating opportunities for people to benefit from biodiversity.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, we must balance the growth of strong and equitable economies with a development path that will allow our natural environment to flourish and continue to provide us with water, food, esthetic values, economic opportunities and a sense of pride and wonder.

Let us therefore work together to secure our Wetlands for the sake of biodiversity, in an effort to make a meaningful contribution towards mitigating the effects of climate Change and securing the livelihoods of local communities.

We must endeavour to protect the wetlands from all activities that might negatively affect them, rehabilitate those that need some restoration and prevent impacts. And in so doing, we would have protected them for ourselves and our future generations. Like Dorothy Nyembe, who tirelessly fought the unjust and inhumane system of Apartheid to ensure that today we and our children enjoy the fruits of liberation, let us now join hands and daily contribute towards protecting our biodiversity for ourselves and our future generations.

I Thank you.

1