Swikoxeni keeps area around KNP clean

Swikoxeni, a cutting-edge waste management facility near the Kruger National Park (KNP), works tirelessly in cleaning around the nearly two-million hectares park. It recycles bottles, tins, plastic and cardboard.

The project, which is located between Lillydale and Justicia villages, a stone’s throw away from the KNP fence, aims to maintain the area, educate young people about conservation and preserve it. Additionally it contributes financially to residents’ livelihoods.

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The director of the facility, Bethuel Mashele, said, “The project promotes recycling and environmental preservation through a variety of initiatives, including clean-up campaigns that directly engage local schools and involve collaborations with the Department of Education, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality and other stakeholders.

“We look at days on the calendar when we extend an invitation to locals to start a conservation campaign. We make every effort to inform and deter young people from littering, as rubbish could end up in our river and flow into the KNP, endangering the health of the park’s wildlife. This project also helps to create employment for 20 young people of different communities around the Kruger.

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“In addition to giving residents jobs, this project safeguards the environment. Over 60 tonnes of bottles are delivered to Gauteng by us each month, generating close to R50 000 and fostering the local economy.”

“Both the human and animal populations’ average life expectancy is being increased. Many problems, including global warming, are currently having an impact on the environment. We want to start using the recyclable resources that this programme discovered to make biodiesel because as a country, we must deal with growing fuel prices. To make sure the environment and people are safe when we will produce the diesel, preparations are being made, and experts will conduct tests,” said Mashele.

Jerimiah Machavi, a KNP social economist, said, “This partnership promotes environmental awareness, fights pollution, works to conserve the environment, and supports employment creation. The co-ordination between various stakeholders has been highly important and necessary.

“This project and cooperation have a high level of impartiality and it is benefiting the KNP’s conservation efforts by creating a long-lasting conservation constituency.”