Minister Nyoni Calls for Wetland Protection, Urges Halt to Development

20 February 2025

By Nomathemba Mathe

Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Wildlife, Honourable Sithembiso Nyoni, has urged local authorities to prioritize the preservation of wetlands by ceasing the allocation of residential stands in these ecologically crucial areas.

Speaking at the launch of a sustainability monograph at the Large City Hall on Monday, Minister Nyoni emphasized the severe flood risk posed by building on wetlands, potentially displacing residents and causing irreversible environmental damage.

Minister Nyoni stressed the difficulty of reversing development on wetlands once construction has begun, appealing to local authorities to proactively safeguard these vital ecosystems, explaining that allowing construction on wetlands inevitably leads to flooding, impacting homes and creating a complex situation for the ministry, which is then tasked with relocating affected residents.

Minister Nyoni concluded by emphasizing the importance of protecting wetlands for future generations, highlighting their role in flood mitigation, water filtration, and biodiversity.