celebrates Arbour Day with Polokwane Regional Office, Polokwane Magistrate's
Offices, Limpopo
8 September 2006
The Regional Manager of Public Works, Mr. Thomas Dzivhani
The Regional Manager of Justice, Advocate WK Sonti
The Regional Manager of Water Affairs and Forestry, Mr. Andrew Tshivhasa
Other senior government officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The Department of Public Works is the political champion of the construction
industry. This industry is critical to the realisation of our reconstruction
and development programmes. Sustainable development cannot be achieved unless
we align both our built and natural environments. Arbour Day as part of our
natural surrounding is not incompatible with the core functions of Public
Works, which is mainly building and construction.
Latest scientific and technological breakthroughs enable us to construct and
put up buildings while we are mindful of the impact of our industries to
environmental management. The use of building material which allows natural
lightning in our construction projects is a prime example. This reduces the
amount of electricity consumed, thereby relieving pressure on the country's
energy production means. Done on a massive scale, this campaign has the
potential to preserve some of our resources such as water and the use of fossil
fuels including coal in the production of electricity.
In addition, the Department of Public Works in collaboration with the
Department of Minerals and Energy is a co-signatory to the commitment to
install technology in our public infrastructure and other buildings to reduce
energy consumption. We have adopted energy efficiency and continuously seek
innovative ways to save energy.
Few are aware of our role in constructing the multi-million rand scientific
and research facilities at the Marion and Gough Island towards the South Pole.
These facilities, built on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs,
play a significant role in environmental management research. The department
provides horticultural services to clients to maintain gardens as well as
landscaping. By planting these trees at Polokwane Magistrate's offices today,
we are trying to beautify the image of state properties as well as trying to
improve service delivery to our clients.
As part of its National Public Works Programme, the department in
recognition of the importance of environment partnered a private sector company
to launch the Clean and Green Special Project under the Community Public Works
Programme in 1999 / 2000. Many of these were initiated in most underprivileged
communities to plant trees, manage waste and clean our surroundings, meanwhile
creating necessary jobs.
Even today under the Expanded Public Works Programme, waste management
services are under consideration as part of expanding the environmental sector
opportunities in an effort to massify the scope and impact of Expanded Public
Works Programme (EPWP). I am mentioning all these, to bring to your attention
our conscious thoughts to ensure compatibility between the built and natural
environments.
At the risk of sounding like a biology teacher, we know the value of trees
and other useful vegetation in enhancing the aesthetics of our communities,
improving the value of our homes, purifying the quality of the air we breathe
and preventing the erosion of our top soil which is rich in nutrients.
As we are going to plant Umvume & Umficane today lets not forget to keep
on planting trees as they can prevent fire, are also used for medication, as
well as planting them in remembrance of our loved ones. The Working for Water
and Working for Fire Programmes under EPWP identify harmful and other alien
vegetations which have opposite effects to the qualities I mentioned above. We
encourage their destruction in the name of environmental conservation.
I wish the regional office well in their campaign to continue to create
awareness around the importance of Arbour Day. I urge you all to embrace the
campaign and put to good use its teachings.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Public Works, Limpopo Provincial Government
08 September 2006
