Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will hand over a Buyisela Eco-Town project to the Mantsopa community in the Free State as part of World Environment Day (WED) celebrations on 4 June 2010.
In South Africa, June is dedicated to national Environment Month. In 2010, Environment Month will be observed under the significant WED theme, “Many species, one planet, one future.” The theme echoes the urgent call to conserve the diversity of life on our planet.
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has set aside R400 million for the Buyisela Eco-Towns programme that is being rolled out to 10 municipalities. The project Buyisela is an initiative led by Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in partnership with Indalo Yethu and the Department of Water Affairs. This initiative aims to create ten eco-towns modelled on sustainability as a legacy project which will serve as a framework or blueprint for other towns to follow.
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on the human environment. Commemorated each year on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
A series of events and activities are scheduled to take place across the country for the duration of the month. For more information visit http:// www.environment.gov.za.
Media is invited to the World Environment Day celebration.
The details for the Mantsopa handover are as follows:
Venue: Arthur Pitso Stadium, Mantsopa, Ladybrand, Free State
Date: Friday, 4 June 2010
Time: 09h00
RSVP:
Moses Rannditsheni
Tel: 012 310 3901
Cell: 082 448 2450
E-mail: MRannditsheni@environment.gov.za
Xolani Ngqoshela
Tel: 012 310 3078
E-mail: XNgqoshela@environment.gov.za
Enquiries:
Albi Modise
Tel: 012 310 3123
Cell: 083 490 2871
E-mail: AModise@environment.gov.za
Roopa Singh
Tel: 012 310 3566
Cell: 082 225 3076
E-mail: RSingh@environment.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
1 June 2010
