Programme director
Executive Mayor: Councillor Dr Mdaka
Local Mayor: Councillor Khosi Vho-Makumbane
Councillors
CEO of Indalo Yethu: Ms Josephs-Langa
Members of the community
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
I feel extremely honoured and privileged to be here today, to be part of this celebration that will see us handover the Thulamela Buyisela Eco-Town Programme to you as the community of Thulamela. I am saying handover because I expect all of the community members to take ownership of this programme and its projects that will see your area transformed for the better.
We are hosting this ceremony under the Public Participation Programme which is championed and endorsed by Cabinet and implemented to ensure that government always engages the citizenry, which is you. Earlier this year Cabinet took a decision that as leadership we must engage and interact with various communities to ensure that we are able to all of us move forward in unison as a country and as a people. What used to be called Izimbizo have now been transformed into Public Participation Programme. Development programme that we implement must be those that benefit our people and create job opportunities for them as well.
This is the government that you have voted into office, hence we are here today to celebrate with you, listen to your challenges while also working together to finding common solution to these challenges.
Announcing the new Cabinet earlier this month, President Jacob Zuma challenged us all as representatives of our communities that we must be a government that knows where our people live. Indeed we aim to ensure that this department knows where you live.
I think we have responded to the President’s call for actually we know where you live; hence we deemed it necessary to earmark Thulamela as one of our key sites under the Buyisela Programme. Hence we are here today with you.
Our celebration here today coincides with the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. The United Nations endorsed this campaign that starts on 25 November and ends on 10 December which is International Human Rights Day each year with the aim of reinforcing the year long 365 days programme.
Part of this ANC led government’s objectives is to ensure your dignity as our people is restored and ensures that as we build a green South Africa, these efforts reach all the areas where the majority of our people lives.
The Department of Environmental Affairs is currently implementing R137 million worth of projects in Limpopo , In addition to that, projects worth some R107 million are currently under planning.
As a result of the eco-towns concept, as adopted by the department seeking to address environmental problems and challenges faced by local municipalities in the environmental management arena, Vhembe Municipality is one of the ten municipalities which were identified to be the recipients of the currently piloted eco-towns concept.
In advancing the implementation of the Buyisela Eco-Towns, the department has approved two projects for implementation to the value of R57 million of which 5 percent has been set aside for accredited training.
This Eco-Town programme, which we refer to as the Buyisela programme, is being implemented by the Department of Environmental Affairs with Indalo Yethu driving its implementation on our behalf. We also work in conjunction with Thulamela Local Municipality.
With this programme it is our aim as the Department of Environmental Affairs to address environmental problems and challenges faced by local municipalities, namely waste management, biodiversity loss, water quality and management, climate change and air pollution, environmental education and awareness as well as related socio-economic issues.
R41 million of the already mentioned R57 million, is being allocated to the Street Cleaning and Greening Project. The project to be implemented over two years currently employs 283 people.
The street cleaning and greening of Thulamela municipality entails acquisition and installation of bins, procurement of street cleaning equipment, street furniture, construction of gateways and street make up, storage facilities, planting of trees and ornamental plant, upgrading of public facilities, clearing of open spaces, preparing of composting, establishment of food gardens and sorting facility.
Complementing the street cleaning and greening project, another project was approved for funding to the value of R15 million and a total of 153 people will be employed during the implementation of this project. The project will, as part of the major deliverables, come up with the open space management plan for the entire municipality, focusing on the greening and creation of recreational parks and landscaping on the identified sites.
I would like to challenge you all as the residents and business communities to embrace these positive changes that are being brought about by this Programme of Buyisela and all the projects.
When this project is completed by 2012, Thulamela should have transformed into a model eco-town with the benefits seen and realised by all.
In conclusion, I want to appeal to the municipality and the community to maintain the infrastructure and jealously guard against vandalism.
As government we are not going to rest until our environment is conserved. As government we are committed to stop all forms of abuse of women and children.
Thank you.
