The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which will see JICA support the Mahikeng Local Municipality with its solid waste management.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on behalf of JICA, chief representative Hiroyuki Kinomoto, explained that, “JICA’s support will in the form of an approval of a follow-up scheme to the tune of R920 000 to support activities to improve the waste management services of Mahikeng.”

He further outlined that this process will involve a visit by JICA’s experts on waste management to give technical support to the municipality. In addition, a national seminar on waste management with several municipalities will also be held.

The agreement follows an instruction from parliament to Cogta to provide the required aid to Mahikeng to literally “clean up its streets”.

A delegation comprising representatives from the Provincial Department of Local Government, Human Settlements and the Department of Environmental Affairs was then established to work with the municipality and coordinate interventions.

The team is led by Thomas Kolokoto, a senior official at Cogta, who has completed environmental management training in Japan under the JICA.

Mahikeng has been identified as a pilot project for the remainder of the country and an action plan has been developed to focus on improving the solid waste management at the local council.

The goal of the signed MoU is to promote a clean and healthy environment in Mahikeng through the improvement of its solid waste collection through proper coordination and the strengthening of local government – partnered with resident participation – to achieve a healthy and clean environment as well as improve the coordination of stakeholders and support programmes relating to solid waste management.