Nature and EnvironmentSouth Africa
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Nature and EnvironmentSouth Africahttps://p.dw.com/p/5MsXo
Cape Town, South Africa, was transformed by its 2018 water crisis. In the township of Masiphumelele, around 50,000 people live, many of them in poverty and with insecure access to water. One of them is Zoleka Havi, who is training to become a river warden.
The streets of the township show just how closely water, the environment and social challenges are interconnected. Waste pollutes water sources, while many families store water in buckets for emergencies. At the same time, innovative sustainable water management projects are taking shape across Cape Town. Retention basins collect rainwater, filter it through plants and help replenish groundwater. Experts see such projects as an important part of adapting to climate change and water scarcity.
River wardens also play a key role. They remove invasive plants from waterways, helping to improve water quality and strengthen natural ecosystems. For people like Zoleka Havi, the fight for water therefore means far more than protecting the environment: It creates jobs, opportunities and hope for a better future.
