The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) by showcasing the department’s land rehabilitation projects in Sterkspruit, Eastern Cape on 14 June 2013.
The Eastern Cape Economic Development and Environmental Affairs MEC Mcebisi Jonas, Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Zoleka Capa and the Executive Mayor of Senqu Local Municipality Cllr Nozibele Mtjali are expected to attend.
Drought and Desertification are the major environmental and socio-economic problems with negative effects on the livelihood, and greatly affect subsistence agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability in rural areas such as Sterkspruit. The land rehabilitation programme aims to reverse the onslaught of desertification threatening the residential area, public infrastructure such as bridges and agricultural land.
World Day to Combat Desertification is observed worldwide each year on 17 June, and its core aim is to reinforce the visibility of the dry lands issue on the international Environmental agenda. World Day to Combat Desertification for 2013 will focus on useful ways to preserve water under the theme: “Drought and water scarcity” and the slogan “Don’t let our future dry up”.
The media is invited to attend and the event’s details are as follows:
Date: Friday, 14 June 2013
Venue: Bensonvalle Teachers Hall, Sterkspruit, Eastern Cape Province
Time: 10h00 to 13h30
To RSVP contact:
Xolani Ngqoshela
Tel: 012 310 3078
E-mail: XNgqoshela@environment.gov.za
Raymond Ramaru
Tel: 012 310 3078
E-mail: RRamaru@environment.gov.za
Moses Rannditsheni
Tel: 012 310 3901
Cell: 082 448 2450
E-mail: MRannditsheni@environment.gov.za
Media enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: mbelengwap@dwa.gov.za
