Pretoria - The Environmental Sector continues to be a source of job creation, skills development and economic empowerment, says President Jacob Zuma.
“Through the Expanded Public Works Programme, environmental programmes have created work opportunities for over 97 000 previously unemployed people.
“Working for Waste has provided 3 750 job opportunities. The Working for Water programme employed 33 000 participants to clear invasive plants,” President Zuma said in his end of year statement, which was released on Thursday.
He said the 1 450 Environmental Monitors have made a significant difference in combatting the poaching of rhinos and other species.
“During 2016, there has been a reduction in cases of rhino poaching, which points to the success of our Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros approach.
“South Africa has also ratified the Paris Agreement to combat climate change,” President Zuma said.
Energy
Significant progress has been made to stabilise electricity supply in the country.
“Eskom has been able to meet the demand and no load shedding was experienced since August 2015.
“The stabilisation of the grid has been a direct result of commissioning new capacity through Eskom’s build programme and additional capacity sourced from the Independent Power Producers (IPPs),” President Zuma said.
He said the extension of electricity supply to communities continues.
“In the 2016/17 financial year, a total grant of R5.6 billion was made available to the Department of Energy for the electrification of 235 000 households [through the] grid and 20 000 non-grid.
“In the first and second quarters of the financial year, R1.3 billion has been spent, realising 167 225 household connections,” President Zuma said.
Infrastructure projects
Infrastructure projects implemented this year include:
- The Ncora Bulk Water Treatment Works Project in the Eastern Cape, which is estimated to benefit 17 887 families from 208 villages.
- The Drakenstein Waste Water Treatment Plant, which was launched and handed over to the Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape.
- The Mokolo and Crocodile River (West) Water Augmentation Project, which supplies water to the Lephalale Local Municipality.
- Eskom's power stations (Matimba and Medupi), the Zeeland water treatment plant, and Exxaro's Grootegeluk Mine. It also transfers water from the Crocodile River West near Thabazimbi to the Lephalale area.
The training of youth as plumbers and water agents continued this year as part of the War on Leaks programme. Government will train 15 000 young people to help curb the R7 billion a year in water losses. – SAnews.gov.za
