REIGNING ENVIRONMENTAL SOUND MUNICIPLITY PROMISES TO ACHIEVE A NEW FEAT.

Environmental sound practices at the Steve Tshwete Municipality in Mpumalanga came under the spotlight on the – 10 th October 2006 . A group of environmentalists and representatives from various structures (the national panel coordinated by DEAT) visited the 2006 Cleanest Town in the province for the National Cleanest Town Competition (CTC) judging. The municipality is the reigning environmental conscious town in the province.

Steve Tshwete Municipality is now competing at a national level against seven other local municipalities in the country. The impact of the competition and efforts of the department on issues of waste management, sustainable development and overall environmental awareness are at stake so as to motivate the candidate municipality.

The municipality boasts of effective sustainable recycling initiatives, which has led to the establishment of something out of nothing facility driven by the community. The facility is now a tourist attraction and has recently started hosting conferences. The effective and successful service payment rate makes the municipality to be the jewel of Mpumalanga. The municipality has previously participated in this drive during the 2002/3 and 2004.

The Cleanest Town Competition (CTC) is an initiative aimed at encouraging responsible waste management by households, companies and in the main by municipalities. The CTC was officially launched at the National Waste Summit held at Polokwane, Limpopo, in September 2001. This approach is with accordance to the National Waste Management Strategy, which aims to reduce waste generation and disposal by 50% and 25% respectively by 2012 and to develop a plan for Zero Waste by 2022.

The CTC drive falls within the bigger picture of the Decade for Education on Sustainable Development (DESD) initiative. The province recently held the DESD conference in which all committed to help the province to realise sustainable development. The pivot of the CTC is to change attitudes by raising awareness and educating our nation on good waste management practices.

All the Councillors and the Executive Mayor of Steve Tshwete, Manthlakeng Mahlangu, attended the session. In her opening remarks she stressed the importance of collective addressing of waste disposal and minimisation for a clean Mpumalanga. She further announced that Steve Tshwete would be hosting a waste Indaba on the 26th of October 2006 where all municipalities will be invited.

The panel had a busy day from the professional presentation and well planned waste management plans. The visiting of places like taxi ranks, parks and residential areas was a good display of effective management resulting on positive rate paying standards. The overall winner of CTC 2005/6 will be announced on the 28th of November 2006 in a venue still to be confirmed. Hopefully, with its determination and vigour – the Steve Tshwete Municipality will do the province proud.

Issued by the Communications Directorate

Department of Agriculture and Land Administration

Contact: Freddy Ngobe – 013 766 6086 / 082 821 4148

Aaron Madonsela – 013 766 6117/ 083 956 5056