MEDIA PRESENTATION ON CURRENT WATER SITUATION
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR, CLLR BENSON FIHLA
CITY HALL
15 OCTOBER 2013
Thank you Mr Programme Director, my colleagues in the leadership of the
Municipality, representatives of the media, ladies and gentlemen.
I wish to thank you wholeheartedly for your presence here today at this vital
presentation. I am encouraged by the turnout and that our major media houses
are present to listen to the important message regarding our current water
situation and the looming water shortage that we wish to disseminate today. This
morning, I wish to make a direct appeal to our media representatives to give full
and broad publicity to the facts presented to you around the dire prospect of a
water crisis facing the city by 2015.
The Municipality has a broad spectrum of communication platforms with which it
communicates with local communities, and we will certainly use it to the fullest
extent to secure the cooperation of our communities in our water conversation
efforts. But we cannot deny that we also need access to local media and the
considerable power you sway in disseminating information and shaping and
influencing people’s minds and perspectives.
Please work together with us to spread the message that we need to save water,
to the benefit of our great city and all our communities, not only today and
tomorrow, but also in the weeks and months ahead. This is a battle that will be
won only over the longer term, so we need to keep the need for water
conservation fresh in our residents’ minds. For that, we also rely on you as our
media partners.
I also wish to make a direct appeal to our residents and communities for their
cooperation in saving water now, so that we can divert a water shortage crisis
later. We need to see the same wonderful spirit that was evident during the
drought in the region in 2011, when residents gave their full cooperation, and
succeeded in reducing their water consumption to acceptable levels, given the
situation that prevailed.
I have no doubt that the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay will once again rise to
the occasion so that, together, we will prevent the very real prospect of a water
shortage crises that is facing us in 2015. But to succeed, we need to start
decreasing our water consumption right now.
I thank our residents for the wonderful response that I know will be forthcoming
and also the media for joining with us in promoting this vital campaign.
Thank you.
Use it, enjoy it, but respect it and conserve it. Every drop counts!