Page 4 Harvest help for city elderly · garden Paulos Gwala, who spoke for the co-op, thanked the...
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GREEN NEWS Page 4 23 April 2010 Keep it tidy: appeal to Warwick traders SDB climate change Support pledged for Ntuzuma co-op Umlazi rivers targeted in cleanup MUSA MTHALANE A CAMPAIGN was recently launched to educated street traders and the public to keep eThekwini clean and to use rubbish bins. The Warwick Junction Transport and Informal Traders Waste Management Education Programme in- volves Durban Solid Waste (DSW) and the KwaZulu- Natal Department of Agri- culture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development. DSW Deputy Head Robert Abbu said at the launch that Warwick Junction was the busiest area in Durban and litter in the area was a big problem. He urged the Warwick com- munity to work with the Municipality to overcome the problem. “We must use bins and people must make sure they protect the environment by keeping eThekwini clean,” said Abbu. He said street traders and taxi drivers should be at the forefront of getting this message across to the public because they deal with thousands of people daily. Dr William Ngema, of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Develop- ment, said people should get together to form co-opera- tives to keep the city clean. Bheki Mbambo, a traders’ representative, appealed to street traders and taxi drivers to keep their surroundings clean as this would be good for businesses. He said this would be particularly important during the World Cup when it would be important to make a good impression on visitors so that they return to the city. [email protected] MACK MAKHATHINI and MUSA MTHALANE A STORMWATER and bio- diversity awareness campaign was launched in Umlazi rec- ently, during National Water Week. The campaign, by the Coa- stal Stormwater and Catch- ment Management Unit, aimed to foster understanding of the importance of water resources and biodiversity. It encouraged residents, especially pupils, to partici- pate in water resource pro- jects. Umlazi was targeted because its streams are heav- ily polluted. The unit’s Area Catchment Coordinator, Mpume Gum- ede, said they used Water Week to educate residents about water-borne diseases and why we need clean streams. Gumede said they had “adopted” a stream in Umlazi, which they would clean and plant its banks with indige- nous trees. “We will then hand over the stream to the com- munity so they can monitor it and report any illegal dumping to us,” she said. Gumede thanked the main sponsors, Toyota SA, for its support. Toyota SA provided T-shirts, caps and refreshments for those taking part in the aware- ness campaign. Ward 76 Councillor Mshiyeni Mzobe thanked the Municipality for cleaning the river and said he hoped the community would learn from the initiative and take care of other streams in the area. Gumede said National Water Week was celebrated every year from 15 to 19 March. It encompasses World Water Day, which focuses on pro- tecting and conserving scarce water resources. The United Nations declar- ed 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of all natural life. The theme of National Water week was, “Together we can save more”. It’s a call for local action that comes amid growing international con- cern over the effect climate change may have on water resources and biodiversity. [email protected] [email protected] Municipality fired up to tackle aliens NOMA BOLANI THE Municipality has been working to rid the conservation area around Virginia Airport and the Ruth First Highway (M4) of invasive alien plants. The Environmental Planning and Climate Change Protection Department has teamed up with environmental organisation Working on Fire on the project, which aims to protect local eco-systems. The project also gives people jobs and an opportunity to learn skills. Large alien plant are being felled and those growing in grasslands are burnt. Most grasslands require burning. This, and the removal of the alien plants, helps protect eco-systems. Working on Fire is concentrating its efforts in eThekwini on conservation areas identified by the Environmental Planning and Climate Change Protection Department. The department picks areas with valuable biodiversity that need clearing of alien plants. These include weeds such as Acacia saligna (known as the Port Jackson willow). Department Ecologist, Errol Douwes, said, “The acacia, originally from Australia, is a a huge problem in the Cape and we intend to tackle its emergence before it becomes entrenched in Durban.” He said it was vital to remove the plant now, because later the cost of removing it will multiply while the plant does considerable damage to naturally occurring species. The project is using organic linseed-based cutter-bar lubrication on their chainsaws when felling trees. This reduces water contamination and other harm to the environment associated with more commonly used mineral oil- based lubricants. Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo said the eradication of alien plants was helping Durban remain a “sub- tropical paradise ahead of the World Cup”. It would also ensure the area’s long-term sustainablity, he said. [email protected] GIVING IT THE CHOP: Alex Gumede and Errol Douwes help clear the conservation area near the Virginia Airport of invasive alien plants Picture: NOMA BOLANI NOMA BOLANI THE Association for the Aged (Tafta) residents were treated to free vegetables harvested from Imagine Durban’s city veggie garden, outside the City Hall’s Pixley kaSeme Street entrance, last week. Green chillies, celery and spring onions were among the veggies picked by the pen- sioners with the help of the Imagine Durban team and a Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries Department worker. Imagine Durban’s Dorothy Lutchmiah said, “This project aims to educate and provide food security to eThekwini residents and we hope other people are motivated to plant vegetable gardens, not only at their homes but also at company buildings.” In the next phase of the project, the Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries Department will provide Tafta with soil, compost and seed trays to help them create and plant their own vegetable garden. The department will also show them how to nurture a garden so that it produces a good harvest each season. Irene Mokoena, a Tafta resi- dent, said, “It is commendable what Imagine Durban and the Municipality are doing. “By growing these vegetable gardens and giving us the produce, the Municipality shows it cares for its residents.” Expansion Lutchmiah said her team was looking at expanding the city vegetable garden concept to other municipal buildings, so that other people in need could be helped too. She said such projects are important at a time when the cost of living is so high – veggie gardens make it possible to provide food free of charge. • The Imagine Durban project is implemented by the Municipality in conjunction with Sustainable Cities, a Vancouver non-government organisation and the Plus Network, a network of 35 cities in 14 countries. [email protected] MACK MAKHATHINI A WOMEN’S cooperative, which will focus on farming and recycling, was launched in Ntuzuma recently, with promises of support from the Municipality and the Kwa- Zulu-Natal government. Linda Mbonambi, Project Manager for the Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (Ink) Area Based Management (ABM), said he would look to help the cooperative set up a rainwater harvesting irriga- tion system. “We will organise tanks or another form of irrigation with the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit. “We will also look at training and teach you pricing so that you make profits,” he told members of the co-op. Mbonambi said he would work with the cooperative to reward those who did well. Speaking on behalf of KZN Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Develop- ment MEC Lydia Johnson, Nompumelelo Mnconywa urged co-op members to plant a variety of crops, rather than copying one another. She brought them seedlings. Ward 43 Councillor Dumi- sani Mabizela congratulated the co-op and promised his support. He said the project was in line with the govern- ment’s call for one home, one garden Paulos Gwala, who spoke for the co-op, thanked the Ink ABM for its help. “We now have cooperatives and can sustain ourselves. People’s lives have changed. “It is now up to us to put the knowledge we received from Ink to good use,” said Gwala. He encouraged youngsters to join farming and recycling projects. “I invite the youth to be part of farming. We are often told by departments that there is money set aside for the youth to be part of such programmes, but they are nowhere to be found,” said Gwala. [email protected] Harvest help for city elderly THE Municipality’s South Durban Basin (SDB) Area Based Management launched a climate change initiative last week. Representatives of busines- ses, the government and non- governmental organisations spent a day identifying solu- tions to problems faced by people in the area. In an address at the launch, Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo said the initiative was “part of the broader picture of all of us in the public and private sec- tor getting involved in climate change initiatives”. SDB ABM Communication Manager Sifiso Xulu said a steering committee would be elected on 7 May and it would be tasked with identifying projects to be implemented. If you are interested in attending the election, call Anisa Khan at 031 201 3126. – Metro Reporter
Transcript of Page 4 Harvest help for city elderly · garden Paulos Gwala, who spoke for the co-op, thanked the...
GREEN NEWSPage 4 23 April 2010
Keep it tidy: appeal to Warwick traders SDB climate change
Support pledgedfor Ntuzuma co-op
Umlazi rivers targeted in cleanup
MUSA MTHALANE
A CAMPAIGN was recentlylaunched to educated streettraders and the public to keepeThekwini clean and to userubbish bins.
The Warwick JunctionTransport and InformalTraders Waste ManagementEducation Programme in-volves Durban Solid Waste(DSW) and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agri-
culture, Environmental Affairsand Rural Development.
DSW Deputy Head RobertAbbu said at the launch thatWarwick Junction was thebusiest area in Durban andlitter in the area was a bigproblem.
He urged the Warwick com-munity to work with theMunicipality to overcome theproblem. “We must use binsand people must make surethey protect the environment
by keeping eThekwini clean,”said Abbu.
He said street traders andtaxi drivers should be at theforefront of getting thismessage across to the publicbecause they deal withthousands of people daily.
Dr William Ngema, of theKwaZulu-Natal Departmentof Agriculture, EnvironmentalAffairs and Rural Develop-ment, said people should gettogether to form co-opera-
tives to keep the city clean.Bheki Mbambo, a traders’
representative, appealed tostreet traders and taxi driversto keep their surroundingsclean as this would be goodfor businesses.
He said this would beparticularly important duringthe World Cup when it wouldbe important to make a goodimpression on visitors so thatthey return to the city.
MACK MAKHATHINI and MUSA MTHALANE
A STORMWATER and bio-diversity awareness campaignwas launched in Umlazi rec-ently, during National WaterWeek.
The campaign, by the Coa-stal Stormwater and Catch-ment Management Unit,aimed to foster understandingof the importance of waterresources and biodiversity.
It encouraged residents,especially pupils, to partici-pate in water resource pro-jects. Umlazi was targeted
because its streams are heav-ily polluted.
The unit’s Area CatchmentCoordinator, Mpume Gum-ede, said they used WaterWeek to educate residentsabout water-borne diseasesand why we need cleanstreams.
Gumede said they had“adopted” a stream in Umlazi,which they would clean andplant its banks with indige-nous trees. “We will then handover the stream to the com-munity so they can monitor itand report any illegaldumping to us,” she said.
Gumede thanked the mainsponsors, Toyota SA, for itssupport.
Toyota SA provided T-shirts,caps and refreshments forthose taking part in the aware-ness campaign.
Ward 76 CouncillorMshiyeni Mzobe thanked theMunicipality for cleaning theriver and said he hoped thecommunity would learn fromthe initiative and take care ofother streams in the area.
Gumede said National WaterWeek was celebrated everyyear from 15 to 19 March.
It encompasses World Water
Day, which focuses on pro-tecting and conserving scarcewater resources.
The United Nations declar-ed 2010 the International Yearof Biodiversity.
It is a celebration of allnatural life.
The theme of National Waterweek was, “Together we cansave more”. It’s a call for localaction that comes amidgrowing international con-cern over the effect climatechange may have on waterresources and biodiversity.
[email protected]@durban.gov.za
Municipality fired up to tackle aliensNOMA BOLANI
THE Municipality has beenworking to rid theconservation area aroundVirginia Airport and the RuthFirst Highway (M4) ofinvasive alien plants.
The EnvironmentalPlanning and ClimateChange ProtectionDepartment has teamed upwith environmentalorganisation Working on Fireon the project, which aims toprotect local eco-systems.
The project also givespeople jobs and an
opportunity to learn skills.Large alien plant are being
felled and those growing ingrasslands are burnt.
Most grasslands requireburning. This, and theremoval of the alien plants,helps protect eco-systems.
Working on Fire isconcentrating its efforts ineThekwini on conservationareas identified by theEnvironmental Planning andClimate Change ProtectionDepartment. The departmentpicks areas with valuablebiodiversity that needclearing of alien plants.
These include weeds suchas Acacia saligna (known asthe Port Jackson willow).
Department Ecologist, ErrolDouwes, said, “The acacia,originally from Australia, is aa huge problem in the Capeand we intend to tackle itsemergence before it becomesentrenched in Durban.”
He said it was vital toremove the plant now,because later the cost ofremoving it will multiplywhile the plant doesconsiderable damage tonaturally occurring species.
The project is using organic
linseed-based cutter-barlubrication on theirchainsaws when felling trees.
This reduces watercontamination and otherharm to the environmentassociated with morecommonly used mineral oil-based lubricants.
Deputy Mayor LogieNaidoo said the eradicationof alien plants was helpingDurban remain a “sub-tropical paradise ahead of theWorld Cup”. It would alsoensure the area’s long-termsustainablity, he said.
GIVING IT THE CHOP: Alex Gumede and Errol Douwes help clear the conservation area near the Virginia Airportof invasive alien plants Picture: NOMA BOLANI
NOMA BOLANI
THE Association for the Aged(Tafta) residents were treatedto free vegetables harvestedfrom Imagine Durban’s cityveggie garden, outside theCity Hall’s Pixley kaSemeStreet entrance, last week.
Green chillies, celery andspring onions were among theveggies picked by the pen-sioners with the help of theImagine Durban team and aParks, Leisure and CemeteriesDepartment worker.
Imagine Durban’s DorothyLutchmiah said, “This projectaims to educate and providefood security to eThekwiniresidents and we hope otherpeople are motivated to plantvegetable gardens, not only attheir homes but also atcompany buildings.”
In the next phase of theproject, the Parks, Leisure andCemeteries Department willprovide Tafta with soil,compost and seed trays tohelp them create and planttheir own vegetable garden.
The department will alsoshow them how to nurture a
garden so that it produces agood harvest each season.
Irene Mokoena, a Tafta resi-dent, said, “It is commendablewhat Imagine Durban and theMunicipality are doing.
“By growing these vegetablegardens and giving us theproduce, the Municipalityshows it cares for itsresidents.”
ExpansionLutchmiah said her team
was looking at expanding thecity vegetable garden conceptto other municipal buildings,so that other people in needcould be helped too.
She said such projects areimportant at a time when thecost of living is so high – veggiegardens make it possible toprovide food free of charge.
• The Imagine Durbanproject is implemented by theMunicipality in conjunctionwith Sustainable Cities, aVancouver non-governmentorganisation and the PlusNetwork, a network of 35cities in 14 countries.
MACK MAKHATHINI
A WOMEN’S cooperative,which will focus on farmingand recycling, was launchedin Ntuzuma recently, withpromises of support from theMunicipality and the Kwa-Zulu-Natal government.
Linda Mbonambi, ProjectManager for the Inanda,Ntuzuma and KwaMashu(Ink) Area Based Management(ABM), said he would look tohelp the cooperative set up arainwater harvesting irriga-tion system.
“We will organise tanks oranother form of irrigationwith the eThekwini Water andSanitation Unit.
“We will also look at trainingand teach you pricing so thatyou make profits,” he toldmembers of the co-op.
Mbonambi said he wouldwork with the cooperative toreward those who did well.
Speaking on behalf of KZNAgriculture, EnvironmentalAffairs and Rural Develop-ment MEC Lydia Johnson,
Nompumelelo Mnconywaurged co-op members toplant a variety of crops, ratherthan copying one another.
She brought them seedlings.Ward 43 Councillor Dumi-
sani Mabizela congratulatedthe co-op and promised hissupport. He said the projectwas in line with the govern-ment’s call for one home, onegarden
Paulos Gwala, who spoke forthe co-op, thanked the InkABM for its help.
“We now have cooperativesand can sustain ourselves.People’s lives have changed.
“It is now up to us to put theknowledge we received fromInk to good use,” said Gwala.
He encouraged youngstersto join farming and recyclingprojects. “I invite the youth tobe part of farming. We areoften told by departmentsthat there is money set asidefor the youth to be part of suchprogrammes, but they arenowhere to be found,” saidGwala.
Harvesthelp forcity elderly
THE Municipality’s SouthDurban Basin (SDB) AreaBased Management launcheda climate change initiative lastweek.
Representatives of busines-ses, the government and non-governmental organisationsspent a day identifying solu-tions to problems faced bypeople in the area.
In an address at the launch,Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoosaid the initiative was “part of
the broader picture of all of usin the public and private sec-tor getting involved in climatechange initiatives”.
SDB ABM CommunicationManager Sifiso Xulu said asteering committee would beelected on 7 May and it wouldbe tasked with identifyingprojects to be implemented.
If you are interested inattending the election, callAnisa Khan at 031 201 3126. –Metro Reporter
