Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will hand over the first domestic waste collection pilot project at the Barolong Community Hall in Mahikeng on the 18th of September 2012.
The department identified Mahikeng Local Municipality to participate in the waste collection pilot project which is implemented using the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) model designed towards job creation, poverty alleviation and skills development in local communities.
During 2007, research was undertaken in six Municipalities (Mbombela, Bushbuckridge, Emfuleni, Thulamela, Nkomazi and Mahikeng) to determine the feasibility of implementing the waste collection model. Mafikeng Local Municipality was chosen as the first beneficiary of the pilot project in 2007 and the agreement was also formalised the same year.
The objectives of the pilot project are manifold and include the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) driven by labour intensive implementation model for Domestic Waste Collection with a view to later implement wider roll-out to other municipalities. Other objectives are reducing waste backlog, create employment opportunities, involve local communities in cleaning their own areas and encourage the implementation of the 3 Rs of waste management, namely, reduction, reuse and recycling.
Based on the lessons learnt through the pilot project, the DEA aims to establish a model for municipal waste management that eradicates backlogs in service delivery in the rest of the country.
Media is invited to attend the event and witness the official handover of the site. The details of the event are as follows:
Date: 18 September 2012
Time: 10h00
Venue: Barolong Community Hall, Mahikeng, North-West Province
For RSVP’s contact:
Xolani Ngqoshela
Tel: 012 310 3078
Cell: 083 630 9519
E-mail: XNgqoshela@environment.gov.za
Gaopalelwe Moroane
Tel: 012 310 3424
E-mail: GMoroane@environemt.gov.za
Madimetja Mogotlane
Tel: 012 395 1770
E-mail: MMogotlane@environmet.gov.za
For media queries contact:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: mbelengwap@dwa.gov.za
Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi to handover the first Mahikeng Domestic Waste Collection Pilot Project
