Motherwell gets hands dirty to save the environment
Published: June 19, 2024<< BACK TO NEWS
As the world celebrates World Environment Month, little and big hands in Nelson
Mandela Bay have dedicated this week to joining forces in an effort to restore and
improve environmental management within the Metro.
NMBM’s Public Health Portfolio Head, Cllr Thsonono Buyeye led from the front as
Municipal employees, Eastern Cape Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the
Environment officials, pupils and non-governmental organisations got their hands
dirty cleaning and greening in Ward 58, Motherwell where illegal dumping is rife.
During the programme MMC Buyeye said following the disastrous floods in NMBM,
the importance of environmental management was urgent.
"In order for us to be able to cope with climate change and its effects we need to
change the way we treat the environment around us. The recent floods in NMB once
again highlighted the effects of illegal dumping, our storm water drains were blocked
and water could not be directed as it should because drains are full of waste and
rubble due to illegal dumping mostly. When drains are blocked, that water has no
place to go and ends up flooding everywhere including in our homes, we saw formal
and informal human settlements flooded in some areas due to this ongoing
challenge.”
"We are encouraged today to see so many stakeholders working with NMBM to
restore the environment. DFFE has roped in Pick n Pay, Polyco, Petco, Swartkops
Conservancy and the Giving them wings foundation to make this programme a
success. This year’s theme is ‘accelerating land restoration, drought resilience and
desertification progress’ and we commit ourselves as NMBM to work with all
stakeholders who are doing good work to save our planet,” MMC Buyeye said.
As part of the programme, 30 indigenous and 20 fruit trees were planted in Ward 59
on Tuesday, 18 June 2014, while a total of 50 fruit trees were donated to 50
households in Ward 58 on Wednesday.
Sidima Ntshoko, 74, who received a fruit tree commended the programme
highlighting the importance of educating residents regularly.
Ward 58 Committee Member, Noriki Basela said: "We are delighted by this sight of seeing so many Municipal trucks and workers cleaning the illegal dumping site. It is a challenge we are battling with, every Wednesday the Municipality picks up waste in this ward but the next day people are dumping illegally and we are not sure why they do that. This is not just a cleaning and greening programme but door-to-door education is also being done so that helps us as we ward to see behavioural change in how residents deal with waste.”
The programme will continue throughout the week in Motherwell while a beach clean
up will be conducted on Saturday, 22 June 2024, to commemorate World Oceans
Day.
Top stories
.jpg)
NELSON MANDELA BAY HAILS LANDMARK 10-YEAR TRANSNET–UMK AGREEMENT AS MAJOR BOOST FOR SA LOGISTICS AND LOCAL ECONOMY July 17, 2025
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality proudly welcomes the landmark 10-year agreement between Transnet and United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK), a powerful vote of confidence in South Africa’s logistics infrastructure and a significant win for our metro,...
SA's G20 PRESIDENCY AIMS FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, JOB CREATION July 16, 2025
As the Chair of the Group of 20 (G20), South Africa’s goal is to promote mutually beneficial economic growth, create jobs and advance sustainable development for its partner nations, says Deputy President Paul Mashatile.