new feat
10 October 2006
Environmental sound practices at the Steve Tshwete Municipality in
Mpumalanga came under the spotlight on 10 October 2006. A group of
environmentalists and representatives from various structures [the national
panel co-ordinated by Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
(DEAT)]visited the 2006 Cleanest Town in the province for the national Cleanest
Town Competition (CTC) judging. The municipality is the reigning environmental
conscious town in the province.
Steve Tshwete Municipality is now competing at a national level against
seven other local municipalities in the country. The impact of the competition
and efforts of the department on issues of waste management, sustainable
development and overall environmental awareness are at stake so as to motivate
the candidate municipality.
The municipality boasts of effective sustainable recycling initiatives,
which has led to the establishment of something out of nothing facility driven
by the community. The facility is now a tourist attraction and has recently
started hosting conferences. The effective and successful service payment rate
makes the municipality to be the jewel of Mpumalanga. The municipality has
previously participated in this drive during the 2002/03 and 2004.
The CTC is an initiative aimed at encouraging responsible waste management
by households, companies and in the main by municipalities. The CTC was
officially launched at the National Waste Summit held at Polokwane, Limpopo, in
September 2001. This approach is with accordance to the National Waste
Management Strategy, which aims to reduce waste generation and disposal by 50%
and 25% respectively by 2012, and to develop a plan for Zero Waste by 2022.
The CTC drive falls within the bigger picture of the Decade for Education on
Sustainable Development (DESD) initiative. The province recently held the DESD
conference in which all committed to help the province to realise sustainable
development. The pivot of the CTC is to change attitudes by raising awareness
and educating our nation on good waste management practices.
All the Councillors and the Executive Mayor of Steve Tshwete, Manthlakeng
Mahlangu, attended the session. In her opening remarks she stressed the
importance of collective addressing of waste disposal and minimisation for a
clean Mpumalanga. She further announced that Steve Tshwete would be hosting a
waste Indaba on 26 October 2006, where all municipalities will be invited.
The panel had a busy day from the professional presentation and well planned
waste management plans. The visiting of places like taxi ranks, parks and
residential areas was a good display of effective management resulting on
positive rate paying standards. The overall winner of CTC 2005/06 will be
announced on 28 November 2006 at a venue still to be confirmed. Hopefully, with
its determination and vigour � the Steve Tshwete Municipality will do the
province proud.
Enquiries:
Freddy Ngobe
Tel: (013) 766 6086
Cell: 082 821 4148
Aaron Madonsela
Tel: (013) 766 6117
Cell: 083 956 5056
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Land Administration, Mpumalanga
Provincial Government
10 October 2006
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za)
