"67 minutes - taking care of my environment" is the strong message that will resonate on 18 July as various activities unfold under the environment umbrella in celebration of Mandela Day. The scheduled events are in response to the call for South Africans to spend 67 minutes of their time doing something that would make a difference in communities.
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica will embark on a clean up and tree planting campaign in Mamelodi on Saturday, 18 July 2009, in celebration of Mandela Day.
Minister Sonjica, together with the local stakeholders and the community, will clean and green Mamelodi for 67 minutes in keeping with the call to participate in activities aimed at making a difference to communities on Madiba's birthday.
The Mamelodi event will be held in close collaboration with Tshwane Metro, Buyisa-e-Bag, Indalo Yethu and the Mamelodi community. Indalo Yethu through its partnership with the SABC1 will make 67 trees available to green the township. The event, which is held two weeks after the promulgation of the Waste Management Act, is also aimed at heightening awareness around waste management.
The event is taking place in Solomon Manhlungu Square in Mamelodi from 09h00 until 14h00 on Saturday, 18 July.
For further information on the Ministerial event contact:
Kgomotso Mokgoko
Cell: 083 519 7516.
In a partnership between the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Water Affairs, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Maggie Sotyu will conduct a clean-up campaign in Botshabelo, Free State. The waste collected will be disposed of at one of the five recycling centres funded by the Environment Department's Social Responsibility Project, in Botshabelo.
In addition, the event will entail awareness on water conservation as well as a tree planting session at a day care centre for the disabled. The event will commence at 08h30 and last until 14h00 from the Mangaung Municipal offices in Botshabelo on 18 July.
For further information on the Free State event contact:
Kgomotso Mokgoko
Cell: 083 519 7516
The Environment Department's Marine and Coastal Management Branch based in Cape Town will have an open day at its Marine Research Aquarium based in Beach Road, Sea Point on Saturday, 18 July 2009. Youth from various orphanages will be visiting the aquarium where they will be able to see how fish are grown and learn more about careers in the marine sciences field. Members of the public are also welcome to visit the research aquarium for this event. The aquarium will be open from 09h00 to 15h00 and entrance is free.
Bookings can be made with:
Tokello Poho
E-mail: tphoho@deat.gov.za
Tel: 021 4023470
Cell: 083 6778322.
Kruger National Park, in partnership with Munghana Lonene FM, which will be donating a house to a destitute family in the village of Cruquetlawn (a village situated ± 15 kilometres outside Kruger National Park) will bring into the park no less than 40 children from the same village. The purpose of the event is to offer these children, who under normal circumstances would not afford a holiday in the park, an opportunity to enjoy a game drive in the park and to expose them to conservation principles with specific focus on the health of the river systems.
For further information contact:
William Mabasa
Cell: 082 807 3919
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) has invited 180 senior citizens from four old age homes around Mamelodi and Eersterus to visit the Pretoria National Botanical Garden for morning tea on 18 July, while Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden will donate 10 indigenous trees for a tree planting ceremony to be held at Robben Island. An indigenous garden which was recently completed at Abbeyfield Gugulethu Old Age Emthembeni will be officially celebrated this Saturday as well.
For further information on the SANBI events contact:
Pedzi Gozo
Tel: 012 843 5233 or 012 843 5000
Members of the public are also encouraged to spend 67 minutes on environment specific activities in their relevant communities.
Media RSVPs:
Judith van der Merwe
Tel: 012 310 3309
Cell: 083 321 2617
E-mail: jvdmerwe@deat.gov.za
For media queries contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
16 July 2009
