City bags R3.5million to save environment

THE City has bagged R3.5 million for its efforts in preserving the environment. Last week Tuesday the Department of Environmental Affairs named eThekwini Municipality the greenest City in South Africa.

Receiving the award, Mayor Zandile Gumede said it is with great pleasure to accept this award for eThekwini Municipality. She said the City prioritises environmental issues and building resilient a city.

“It takes a team of dedicated officials who are passionate to drive these initiatives and processes into a reality. It has not been easy to implement such programmes and yet we are proud that some African cities are taking lessons from our waste management strategies and programmes,” said Mayor Gumede.

The price money will be given through funding of infrastructure projects aimed at the protection of the environment. The prize is tied to implementation of waste, climate change and green economy related job creation projects.

Also read: PHOTOS: Pollution sees Glen Anil stream change colours .

Some of the factors considered in the evaluation which saw eThekwini come out on top include waste management, energy efficiency, conservation, water management, landscaping, tree planting and beautification, public participating and community empowerment, leadership and institutional arrangements presentation.

The competition aims to encourage and ensure sustainable development by creating job while promoting best practises in environmental management. It seeks to promote a clean and healthy environment in the municipalities through greening and beautification exercises.

Prior to the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs Barbara Thomson and Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala led clean-up activities where a total of six tons of litter were collected around Durban central and the Mangroves Nature Reserve North Beach in eThekwini. on Tuesday 14 August.

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