Residents visiting their local libraries across Cape Town may soon be greeted by a familiar face championing water conservation, as life-size cut-outs of the City’s beloved mascot, Manzi, are rolled out at facilities metro-wide.
The initiative, led by the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate, aims to place water-saving messaging directly into high-traffic community spaces, making awareness more visible and part of residents’ daily routines.
The campaign was officially launched at the Cape Town Central Library, where the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, joined his counterpart for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham, alongside Manzi.
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Already a popular figure in schools and community outreach programmes, Manzi’s expansion into libraries is expected to significantly widen the campaign’s reach, tapping into spaces that attract millions of visitors each year.
Badroodien warned that current conditions require urgent action, noting that every drop saved now could help safeguard supply in the months ahead. With rainfall expected to arrive later and in lower volumes, he cautioned that complacency could put additional strain on the system.
‘The reality is that every drop we save now helps protect our water supply for the months ahead. With rainfall expected to arrive later and in lower volumes, we cannot afford to be complacent.‘ he said.
‘By bringing Manzi into everyday community spaces like libraries, we are making water awareness unavoidable and empowering the youth to be part of the solution.’
– Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation
He added that placing Manzi in everyday public spaces helps reinforce the message while encouraging young people to play an active role in conservation.
Higham echoed the sentiment, highlighting libraries as trusted hubs for learning and engagement. She said integrating water-saving messaging into these spaces allows the City to meet residents where they are, while promoting small behavioural changes that could have a lasting impact on Cape Town’s water security.
The campaign comes as dam levels sit at approximately 45%, raising concerns about the sustainability of current supplies. Residents are being urged to reduce consumption to help stretch available water reserves, which may need to last well into next year if rainfall remains below average.
The City has set a target to keep daily water usage below 860 million litres, a threshold seen as critical in avoiding the reintroduction of stricter water restrictions should winter rainfall fall short.
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Picture: The City of Cape Town
