Various stakeholders including business, industries, labour and civil society have stepped up to clean South Africa as part of the Good Green Deeds programme.
The Good Green Deeds programme was recently launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa to mobilise all sectors of South Africa to become more environmentally conscious. The programme seeks to promote behavioural change towards littering, illegal dumping and waste in general. Minister of Environmental Affairs Nomvula Mokonyane has welcomed the efforts so far, echoing the president’s call for all South Africans to make a difference in their communities by participating in clean-up activities. Speaking at the launch of the Good Green Deeds programme Ramaphosa urged South Africans to embark on a new era of consciousness. “So let us commit today, right here and right now, that we will each do one Good Green Deed a day, for the sake of ourselves, for the sake of others, and for the sake of our country. A clean environment is feasible and is necessary, and, ultimately, will become an important source of national pride.”A number of clean-up initiatives have since been organised, and tons of waste collected across various communities. The initial stage of the programme focuses on cleaning of litter and eradication of illegal dumping across South Africa.
“We are truly encouraged by the efforts of different stakeholders towards the implementation of the clarion call to individuals, private sector, labour, NGOs, interfaith formations and society at large to clean South Africa, making our cities, towns and rural areas places where it is safe and healthy for all to live,” said Mokonyane.
