Pretoria - A bold campaign to inspire all South Africans to roll up their sleeves and partner with government on a major clean-up campaign in all municipalities beyond the International Mandela Day, will be launched on Friday.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, together with the Department of Water and Sanitation, will lead a multi–sector formation, comprising all sections of society to espouse the values of Mandela every day, by committing to create a clean environment, where they live.
Every year on July 18, South Africans, together with the international community, honour former president and international icon Nelson Mandela through embracing his values and initiatives that acknowledge his never-ending quest to change the world for the better.
As part of the campaign, the departments will dispatch about 150 officials across municipalities to take part in the clean-up campaign for the day.
Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane will join Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan and North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo in various clean-up activities in Ngaka Modiri Molema, in the North West.
In line with Mandela’s principles of dedicating oneself to the advancement of communities and creating sustainable livelihoods for all humankind, government urges all citizens to commemorate the Nelson Mandela legacy by dedicating their time and take part in the campaign.
Minister Gordhan said: “Our people are entitled to live in clean and decent conditions. In the spirit of moving South Africa forward, the campaign will pay special attention to ensuring that each and every municipality works closely with its community towards a developmental local government”.
Campaigns such as the “War on Leaks” will be intensified during this period where unemployed youth and other members of the community will be encouraged to join government in fixing leaking water taps across the country’s municipalities.
This will ensure that the water losses which are a major contributor to water shortages are curbed extensively.
Minister Mokonyane said the activities should focus on the problem of pollution in rivers and streams which affects the livelihoods of communities downstream.
“It is important that these communities take responsibility for these environmental assets and as such our river health program will be enhanced through these efforts during Mandela Day,” she said.
Minister Mokonyane’s deputy Pamela Tshwete will lead a river clean-up campaign in an informal settlement in Butterworth, Eastern Cape, on the day.
The campaign, which will start with the 67 minutes of cleaning the environment across the country on July 18, is set to:
- Encourage all South Africans to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to clean South Africa beyond the International Nelson Mandela Day;
- Practice a healthier and cleaner way of living by taking care of the environment and cleaning up the areas where they live;
- Beautify the country by getting together for a major clean-up of our cities, town, township, villages and schools;
- Inspire change in their communities; and
- Take responsibility for establishing better living conditions for themselves.
Municipalities countrywide will announce programmes where locals can get involved in the on-going activities as a way of sustaining the values of Mandela and doing their part to appreciate his devotion to changing people’s lives. - SAnews.gov.za
