Deputy Minister Barbara Thomson hands eco-desks to learners in KwaZulu-Natal, 22 Feb

Invasive alien plants provide solid-wooden desks for learners in KwaZulu-Natal

The Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Barbara Thomson, will be handing over eco-furniture school desks on 22 February 2019 at Leshman Secondary School in KwaZulu-Natal as part of the Back to School and Environmental Awareness campaign.

The high-quality, durable, solid-wooden school desks are made out of biomass from cleared Invasive Alien Plants as part of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Eco-Furniture Programme. The Programme started 16 years ago, and is aimed at alleviating youth unemployment in South Africa and prevents the spreading of alien invasive plants. Through the Eco furniture programme, unemployed and disadvantaged community members are employed to remove these invasive alien plants and convert them into useful products.

During her visit to the school, Deputy Minister will hand over desks which are a product of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ environmental care and protection function. The desks are being manufactured for less than half of what schools are currently paying for chipboard desks that last a fraction of the time of the Eco-desks. 

The Deputy Minister will be joined by Honourable Mayor of Dr Nkosazana Zuma Local Municipality, Cllr Patricia Ngeneleni Mncwabe.

Media are invited to attend the event as follows:

Part 1

Date: 22 February 2019
Venue: Leshman Secondary School, Ward 5 Sentocon, Bulwer Town KwaZulu-Natal 
Time: 10:00 am

Part 2

Date: 22 February 2019 
Venue: Khukhulela Community Hall, Ward 5 Centocow, Bulwer Kwazulu-Natal 
Time: 11:00 am

To RSVP contact:
Sithokozile-Banele Mabena
Tel: 012 399 9989
Cell: 073 297 9409
E-mail: SMabena@environment.gov.za

Enquiries:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871

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