Easter is a sacred time for most people. One of reflection, community, and spiritual renewal. Across South Africa, many may gather near rivers and dams to take part in cherished religious rituals, including baptisms. These moments are powerful expressions of faith, but this year, they come shadowed by a harsh and dangerous reality. Our natural water sources are not safe.
Heavy rains have swollen rivers and dams in most parts of the country. What looks peaceful on the surface may in fact be hiding deadly undercurrents, submerged debris, and unstable, slippery banks. These aren’t hypothetical dangers—they are real, immediate, and fatal if underestimated. And yet, too often, warnings go ignored.
This is why Minister Pemmy Majodina’s recent stern remarks about evacuations of people downstream of the Vaal Dam deserve attention. Yes, her tone may have come across as harsh or even arrogant to some, but that should not overshadow the substance of what she said. When taken in context, her comments reflect the kind of urgent, unfiltered communication that the situation demands.
I understand that leaders must speak with empathy, especially in a country where poverty and inequality force many into high-risk areas. Sensitivity to hardship is not optional; it is essential. Still, we must also recognise that warnings, when delivered in a direct and serious tone, are not necessarily tone-deaf. Sometimes, they reflect years of being ignored and of watching the same tragedies unfold time and time again.
Minister Majodina’s recent frustration mirrored a broader challenge in our country where the cycle of warnings unheeded, disaster striking, and blame landing squarely on those who tried to raise the alarm. South Africa has seen repeated floods devastate informal and illegal settlements built in floodplains—places known to be dangerous. Lives are lost. Infrastructure collapses. Families are displaced.
Yes, the government must be held accountable to a certain extent, but we must also confront an uncomfortable truth. Personal and community responsibility play a crucial role in the prevention of such dangers. Choosing to remain in danger zones, building on floodplains, or conducting rituals in hazardous waters doesn’t just risk individual lives; it endangers first responders and entire communities. This is not about blaming the vulnerable; it’s about fostering a culture of shared responsibility.
This issue goes beyond a single storm or season. It is about shifting long-term behaviour. Building in danger zones, conducting baptisms in unsafe waters, or treating nature’s force with indifference is no longer viable in a world where climate change is making extreme weather more frequent and more violent. Minister Majodina’s frustration is understandable. Her call for personal responsibility shouldn’t be viewed as insensitive, it should be heard as a plea to prevent future tragedies.
And let me be clear, I am not saying that communities should abandon their sacred rituals during the Easter weekend; I am saying that they just need to adapt them. Baptisms can still take place in safer and controlled environments, while the spiritual significance remains. In fact, choosing safety only deepens the meaning; it places value on life, which is at the core of most faiths.
We must also shift how we respond to leadership. Let’s not confuse directness with disrespect. Let’s not dismiss warnings because we don’t like the tone, or the person conveying the message. Lives are on the line, and in moments like these, clarity should matter more than comfort.
This Easter, let our faith remain strong, but let it be matched by an even stronger commitment to safety and responsibility. Let us honour life, not risk it. If your celebration involves water, prepare thoroughly. Choose safety. Choose life.
* Lebogang Maseko is a Communicator at the Department of Water and Sanitation. She writes in her personal capacity.
Cape Argus