Protect our natural heritage from ourselves
This Saturday the country celebrates Heritage Day, a public holiday that was introduced by our first democratic president Nelson Mandela, as far back as 1996.
The occasion is meant to celebrate the many cultures, traditions, places, people, history and objects such as monuments and buildings that contribute to our country’s incredible heritage treasure chest.
But as much as these customs and histories add to the rich tapestry of South Africa’s inheritance, it is beyond doubt that our natural heritage takes pride of place.
Nature has given the residents of this region – as well as the domestic visitors and international tourists who we hope will soon flood back to aid the ailing local economy – the most amazing marine and terrestrial attractions.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park – the country’s first World Heritage Site – and HluhluweiMfolozi Game Reserve are two prime examples, as is the entire coastline and ocean that surrounds us.
It perhaps goes unnoticed that Heritage Day is celebrated during the same week that the International Coastal Clean-up takes place.
In a sense, the latter is a rebuke against the way we as humans violate the God-given natural environment.
And we should not for a moment believe that the thousands of tonnes of litter gathered off our coastline were all dumped there by beachgoers.
Some of it came from the sea onto the land, tossed overboard from passing vessels.
Other pollutants originated far inland, such as cigarette butts and plastic bags that entered the ocean via rivers that were fed by storm water drainage systems in the hinterland.
It is sad commentary that, despite so much that is said and taught concerning the environment, the mindset persists among a large majority that it is okay to litter at will.
With no thought for injury or inconvenience to others, or to the cost of removing the garbage, bottles and cans are merely dumped after their contents are consumed at beach areas.
Fishermen are unconcerned about leaving behind rotting bait and old sardine boxes - and even fish hooks and line that can snare birds.
Those who braai or picnic disregard the litter bins that are placed nearby and instead throw their rubbish on the ground.
So why is it that public space in our beautiful region is treated so disgracefully?
It would be difficult to argue against the claim that littering – especially when it comes to broken glass – is a direct result of failing to take action against public drunkenness.
The mentality that polluting the seas, contaminating the land and poisoning the air are minor matters compared with issues like the crime rate and State capture – will lead us to the point where there will soon be little left to celebrate.