The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, together with the Minister of the Department of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters, and the Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Mr Parks Tau, will on 23 October 2014, hand over cycling facilities to the Orlando community, as part of South Africa's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy sources and facilitate broad climate change awareness.
The facility in Orlando, Soweto, is one of three pilot projects in South Africa towards a non-motorised transport network under the National Greening Programme, and is funded to the tune of R16.2 Million, through the partnership between the Department of Environmental Affairs and the German Development Bank, KfW.
The implementation of this project supports the City of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy 2040 to provide alternate transport systems in car-oriented environments.
A cycle tour of the facilities, using traditional and electric bicycles, will be conducted.
2nd National Non-Motorised Transport Conference: 31 October 2014
The hand-over is followed by the 2nd National Non-Motorised Transport Conference, which the Minister of Environmental Affairs will also host in collaboration with the Minister of Transport, Mayor of the City of Johannesburg and KfW (German Development Bank).
The Conference provides a platform where issues that need to be overcome in the planning and roll-out of non-motorised infrastructure are identified, while the provinces of Gauteng, Polokwane and eThekwini provide insights on non-motorised transport networks in respective cities.
The value of programmes to encourage cycling in cities will be highlighted, and three pilot sites in the country will be showcased. Four themes guide the conference agenda, namely, Policy, Access to non-motorised transport, Engaging with NMT users, and Awareness Programmes.
Media is invited to attend the following events:
Hand-over of cycling facilities in Orlando, Johannesburg
Date: 23 October 2014
Venue: Mooki Street, Orlando East, Soweto (close to Orlando magistrate court)
Time: 11h00 – Delegation leaves Pretoria from Environmental House to Orlando
13h00 – Programme starts
Non-Motorised Transport Conference
Date: 31 October 2014
Venue: Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Rd, Arcadia, Pretoria
Time: 11h00
Programme [PDF]
To RSVP kindly contact:
Thembile Ngcobo
Tel: 012 3999 986
Cell: 071 2736 102
E-mail: tngcobo@environment.gov.za
Simangele Mabusele
Tel: 012 399 9987
Cell: 078 865 3360
E-mail: smabusela@environment.gov.za
For media enquiries contact:
Janine Hambury
Cell: 082 643 1609
E-mail: jhambury@environment.gov.za
