Government has launched a national campaign encouraging South Africans to protect rivers through clean-up activities, environmental stewardship and stronger action against water pollution.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has launched the 2026 Clear Rivers Campaign, calling on communities, businesses, schools and civil society organisations to work together to restore South Africa’s rivers and strengthen the country’s long-term water security.
The campaign was launched at the Apies River in Pretoria North by Deputy Minister Dr Jack Bloom during Mandela Month under the theme, “South Africa is a water-scarce country: Clean up and protect our water resources.”
The initiative forms part of a nationwide programme encouraging South Africans to dedicate their 67 minutes of service to cleaning rivers, wetlands, dams, canals and streams while promoting responsible environmental management throughout the year.
“Our rivers are the lifeblood of our communities, our economy and our ecosystems. Their protection cannot be left to government alone. Every South African has a responsibility to prevent pollution, report illegal dumping and become an active custodian of our water resources,” said Bloom.
While welcoming community participation, Bloom stressed that clean-up campaigns alone cannot solve South Africa’s water pollution challenges.
He said sustainable improvements require addressing the root causes of pollution, including illegal dumping, failing wastewater infrastructure and untreated sewage entering rivers. Referring to the Apies River, he noted that years of sewage spills, industrial pollution and urban waste have severely degraded the river, threatening biodiversity, surrounding ecosystems and public health.
Bloom also referenced findings from the 2025 Green Drop Report, which revealed that nearly half of South Africa’s municipal wastewater treatment systems are in a critical state.
To strengthen accountability, the Department is establishing a National Polluters Register to identify polluters and improve enforcement against those responsible for contaminating the country’s water resources.
Acting Deputy Director-General for Water Resources Management Dr Moloko Matlala encouraged communities to participate in the Adopt-a-River Programme, which enables citizens to monitor river health through citizen science initiatives such as the mini Stream Assessment Scoring System (miniSASS).
The launch also recognised the contribution of the Environmental Warriors, led by citizen scientist Noloyiso Mbiza, whose volunteers have been conducting regular clean-up activities along the Apies River since 2023.
Following the official proceedings, government officials, community members, learners and environmental partners joined the Deputy Minister in removing litter and debris from the riverbanks and surrounding areas.
The Department thanked its partners, including the City of Tshwane, Rand Water, Plastics SA, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, schools and community organisations, while encouraging all South Africans to adopt rivers in their communities, report pollution and help protect the country’s freshwater resources for future generations.
