Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Barbara Thomson recently launched environmental protection and infrastructure programmes in Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality in the Northern Cape.

Speaking at the launch, which forms part of the National Imbizo Focus Week, she said the department has designed an Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programme (EPIP) to fund and implement projects that seek to translate policies into action.

“This programme is focused on greening and open space management; Working on Waste; Working for Land; Working for the Coast; People and Parks; Wildlife Economy and Youth Environmental Services projects,” said the Deputy Minister.

Empowering municipalities

The programme is being implemented throughout the country in different districts and local municipalities.

Two projects in the Ga-Segonyana were approved for funding. The first project being is the Ga-Segonyana Waste Management Project with a budget of R25 million for the planning and development of the landfill site with supporting infrastructure and equipment.

The project was implemented in January this year and is scheduled to be completed in December 2016.

The second project is the Ga-Segonyana Greening Project, which is allocated a budget of R12 million for the construction of two community recreation parks in GaMopedi and Bathlaros locations respectively.

The project started in April 2015 and is anticipated to be completed in December this year.

“These two initiatives will ensure that non-recyclable and recyclable waste generated from businesses and households, which often litters our surroundings, will be transported to a landfill site and buyback centre respectively, and that open spaces that are used for illegal dumping of waste and criminal activities will be converted to recreation parks,” concluded Deputy Minister Thomson.