The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will showcase 20 years of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Environmental Programmes in Mitchells Plain, on Monday, 14 April 2014.
The Department of Environmental Affairs runs 11 Environmental Programmes aimed at the alleviation of poverty and improvement of lives while protecting the natural resources. These programmes include, amongst others, the Working for Water, Working on Fire, Working for Wetlands, Working for the Coast, and Working for Waste programmes which have not only provided jobs to poverty stricken communities, but improved lives of many men and women in South Africa.
The Environmental Programmes work to the employment prescripts of Government’s Expanded Public Works Programmes, using labour-intensive methods which target the unemployed, and opportunities for youth, women, people with disabilities and Small to Medium Size Enterprises (SMMEs).
Over the past 20 years, the Environmental Programmes have tackled the critical challenges of natural resources management, protection of environmental and infrastructure through the Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programmes (EPIP).
NRM programmes address threats to reproductive use of land and water, and the functioning of natural systems, from invasive alien species, wild fires and land degradation. In doing this work, they also promote opportunities for value-added industries (including fibre and eco-furniture production), while ensuring meaningful livelihood opportunities for those employed from marginalised communities. The Major NRM programmes are Working for Water, Working on Fire, Working for Wetlands, Working for Ecosystems (Catchments), Working for Forests, Working for Energy (Biomass), and Eco-Furniture Programme.
EPIP manage the identification, planning and implementation of focal areas such as People and Parks, Working for Wildlife, Working for Ecosystems (Restoration), Working for Waste, Working for the Coast and Greening & Open Spaces Management.
Work of the department’s EPWP Programmes will be exhibited during the celebration.
Members of the media are invited to attend the event and there will be interview and photo opportunities.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: 14 April 2014
Venue: Portlands Sportfield, Hazeldene Street, Mitchells Plain, Cape Town.
Time: 09h00
To RSVP, contact:
Sivuyile Ngaba
Tel: 021 441 2788
Cell: 071 403 5294
E-mail: sngaba@environment.gov.za
For media enquiries, contact:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
