A group of intrepid swimmers “broke the ice” on Silvermine dam last week to open National Water Week which included World Water Day on Thursday March 22.
Under the theme, “Access to Safe Water by 2030: Possible through nature”, the event
was organised by the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa. WWF’s freshwater project manager, Kholosa Magudu, spoke of childhood memories in Matatiele in the foothills of the Drakensberg, skinny dipping, making clay toys, and mastering carrying a bucket of water on her head.
She came to Cape Town to join other super water wasters until the drought showed us the value of the resource and bridged the disconnect to nature.
“South Africa is one of the 30 driest countries in the world, so we need to waterproof our future, create a solid foundation with a roof that does not leak,” said Ms Magudu.
Silvermine dam was built in 1898 to feed the municipality below but since 1912 it is home to Egyptian geese, baboons, schools of fish and human swimmers.
