Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Mme Rejoice Mabudafhasi will handover the R41 million Bushbuckridge Buyisela / Eco-town, on 19 August 2010, in Mpumalanga.
The handover forms part of the Deputy Minister’s Public Participation Programme which she started in Limpopo last month.
The Buyisela / Eco-towns project is developed to address environmental problems and challenges faced by local municipalities, namely waste management, biodiversity loss, water quality and management, climate change and air pollution, environmental education and awareness as well as related socio-economic issues. However, the project is intended to offer the opportunity to achieve high standards of sustainable living while also maximizing carbon-neutrality within communities.The project is also envisaged to provide solution for the reduction of pollution by promoting recycling and reduction of waste, use of renewable energy, tree planting and maintenance.
The Bushbuckridge municipality is one of the ten municipalities which were identified to be the recipients of the currently piloted Buyisela/Eco-towns concept. The project entails installation of bins, equipment, street furniture, construction of gateways and street make up, storage facilities, planting of trees and ornamental plant, upgrading of public facilities, clearing of open spaces, preparing of composting, establishment of food gardens and sorting facility. The project has created 283 jobs for the local community.
The details of the handover are as follows:
Venue: Mapulaneng Multipurpose Community Centre, Bushbuckridge
Date: 19 August 2010
Time: 09h30
As part of the public awareness and education programmes for both the Departments of Water Affairs and Environmental Affairs, the Deputy Minister will be accompanied by the Blue Bus that will be used as part of the outreach programme whereby water and environmental ambassadors and officials will interact with communities and share useful information about water conservation and sound environment management practices.
For RSVPs and media enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa
Tel: 012 336 7902
Cell; 082 6118197
E-mail: mbelengwap@dwa.gov.za
