The eThekwini Municipality has once again scooped the title of the greenest municipality in South Africa.

Accepting the award on behalf of the City Mayor Zandile Gumede said the City prioritises environmental issues and building resilient a city.

“It takes a team of dedicated officials who are passionate to drive these initiatives and processes into a reality. It has not been easy to implement such programs and yet we are proud that some African cities are taking lessons from our waste management strategies and programmes”, she noted.

Implementing projects

The City was evaluated on its waste management, energy efficiency, conservation, water management, landscaping, tree planting and beautification, public participating and community empowerment, leadership and institutional arrangements presentation.

In honour of its efforts the municipality will receive a R3.5 million which will be given through funding of infrastructure projects aimed at the protection of the environment. The prize is tied to implementation of waste, climate change and green economy related job creation projects.

Encouraging sustainable development

The competition aims to encourage and ensure sustainable development by creating job while promoting best practises in environmental management. It also seeks to promote a clean and healthy environment in the municipalities through greening, cleaning and beautification exercises.

Prior to the awards ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs Ms Barbara Thomson together with Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala led clean-up activities where a total of six tons of litter were collected around Durban central and the Mangroves Nature Reserve North Beach in eThekwini yesterday, Tuesday 14 August 2018. This award simple validates eThekwini’s vision to be the most liveable City.