Taking care of the environment

Members of the Emalahleni Environmental and Waste Management Committee want to make sure that all the environmental issues and waste in the area is taken care of.
The group was formed between 2007 and 2008 and it started in the different wards of eMalahleni with the wards doing different projects leading to the different wards forming a cooperative. The cooperative was launched again in October last year after the group time frame had elapsed. New members were elected to the executive committee during the launch. The new executive committee consist of: Azaria Mabena as the chairperson, Kagula Marabe as the deputy chairperson, Bongane Mathabela as the secretary, Patrick Bodibane as the vice secretary, Saint Tau as the treasurer and the coordinator is Mbongeni Malaza. Additional members are Grace Mkhatshwa, Oupa Mabena, Thabo Luyenga (representing Kriel) and one post reserved for a representative from Phola.

Two members of the Emalahleni Environmental and Waste Management Committee, Azaria Mabena (chairperson) and Bongane Mathabela (secretary).

The group has different sub committees with two members. It has a sub committee for enterprise development: Thabo Mashia – coordinator, Sylvester Kenny – secretary, research and development: Aaron Manzini – coordinator, Rudolf Sambo – secretary, recycling: Nkosabo Nzima – coordinator, Thawunda Maduna – secretary, public and private participation: Mncedisi Ndlovu – coordinator, Itumeleng Tlou – secretary, horticulture: Buti Mamothamo – coordinator, Coridon Masina – secretary.

The group says their mandate comes from the Constitution of the country (in Section 24 a) which says that everybody has a right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her well being. In (Section 24 b- chapter 2) it says the environment needs to be protected for the present and the future generations through reasonable legislature and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation. They want also to promote conservation and secure ecologically sustainable development and use natural resources while promoting justifiable, economic and social development.

The group main objective are:

*To promote a clean and healthy environment and community participation.
*To partner with internal and external stakeholders in order to achieve the organisation’s objective.
*To promote health and environment programmes aimed at addressing land pollution
*To change the community mind set on environmental cleanness
*To support initiatives from local community based organisation on environmental projects (like Working on Waste).
*To develop landfill sites
*Construction of waste transfer stations
*Construction of buy-back centres or recycling centres
*Street cleaning and beautification and
*Greenest municipality competition
*To develop rehabilitation of environmentally friendly recreation parks
*To develop nurseries
*To construct environmental and educational centres
*To develop greener technology sources projects

“We stand at a critical moment in earth’s history, at a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise. To move forward we must recognise the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms. We are one human family and one earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace. It is imperative that we the people of the earth declare our responsibility to one another to the greater community of life and the future generations. We would also like to thank the good partnership we have with the local municipality to grow even further, thanks for their support,” reads a statement from the organisation.

The organisation urges all individuals or groups who are interested or sharing the same vision as theirs that they are welcome to join them.

Contact them: Bongani Mathabela at 078 326 1728 or Azaria Mabena at 071 649 0006 or Mbongeni Malaza at: 082 925 4035.