More than 400 youths in Tshwane to benefit from the Eco Furniture and War on Leaks Projects launched by Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi and Executive Mayor Sputla Ramokgopa
The Deputy Water and Environmental Affairs Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi and the Executive Mayor of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Cllr Kgosientso Sputla Ramokgopa, today launched the Eco Furniture Factory and War on Leaks projects in Garankuwa and Mamelodi, respectively.
Eco Furniture Factory
The Eco-Furniture Project of the Department of Environmental Affairs, implemented through the South African National Parks, is a partner in the Department of Basic Education’s systematic approach to address the needs of schools, inter alia the requirement for quality school desks for Learners. These desks are made in South Africa from wood of invasive alien trees cleared by previously unemployed workers.
“The Garankuwa Eco Furniture Factory will initially create work opportunities and skills development for 200 young people through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Model and be expanded to 428 as the project progresses in the long term. The project will be implemented over a period of 3 years. We are committing a budget of R165 million for this project” said Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi.
War on Leaks project
South Africa is losing 37% of water through leaks which translates to R7 billion per year. The Department of Water Affairs initiated the War on Leaks project which is currently being implemented at different municipalities across the country. This project is aimed at eradicating water leaks in households, schools, clinics and other public buildings, training of unemployed youth with basic plumbing skills and job creation.
Mabudafhasi further said, “the launch of War on Leaks project will assist the City of Tshwane to eradicate non-revenue water or accounted for water and also ensure skills development opportunities and create 200 jobs through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Model.
The Department of Water Affairs has budgeted R3 million for War on Leaks in Tshwane. I also want to acknowledge the contribution we received from Rand Water in support of the War on Leaks in Tshwane. They have contributed an amount of R2 million towards the implementation of this project and have further committed to train our young people through the Rand Water Academy”.
As the City of Tshwane, we have undertaken a number of programmatic initiatives to transform our social and economic base and will continue to do so until we have laid sound foundations for an inclusive economic system, said the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr. Kgosientso Ramokgopa.
“The city continues to seek ways of working with the private sector and government to defeat the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment and we are very delighted to be partnering with the Departments of Water and Environmental Affairs on the Eco Furniture Factory and War on Leaks projects to address this scourge in the Capital City”.
These employment opportunities for the youth will undoubtedly help us realize our economic growth and social development agenda within the City, added Ramokgopa.
Speaking at the launch, Fiberpipe Director, Vanessa Khathwane said “My message to the beneficiaries is that today you have been given a tremendous opportunity and challenge to contribute not only to your community, but to the country as a whole.
Through the project that you will be involved in, you will be significantly contributing to the conservation of our precious limited water resource by reducing water losses, for the present and future generations.
Let us embrace the War on Leaks programme and make it a reality. Through this initiative, we as Fiberpipe express our support to our Honourable Deputy Minister and her department in launching this programme, by donating 20 Plumbing Tool Kits and 200 T-Shirts to this project”.
For media enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa, Spokesperson for the Deputy Minister
Cell: 082 611 8197
Email: mbelengwap@dwa.gov.za
Lebogang Matji, Media Relations Specialist
Cell: 083 610 9066
E-mail: lebogangma@tshwane.gov.za
