City in big show of support for a healthy environment
03 June 2015
The City of Johannesburg has pulled out all stops to demonstrate its commitment to the sustainable conservation of the environment by being actively at the centre of three major events this week aimed at heightening awareness of the importance of embracing sound environmental practices.
On Thursday and Friday the City will host an Environmental Health Conference at the Turffontein Racecourse focusing on food safety regulations; global warming and its impact on health; water pollution; informal food traders; and vector and rodents' control.
The conference will culminate in the awarding of the Alfred Nzo Environmental Health Awards to a number of environmental health practitioners.
The awards were first introduced in 2002 in memory of the late activist and politician Alfred Nzo, who worked as an Environmental Health Inspector in Alexandra early on in his life.
"The awards are given to individuals who have contributed to the transformation of environmental health and have created innovative ideas in the advancement of environmental health services," Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Clr Nonceba Molwele explained.
On Saturday June 6 Pikitup, the City's waste management company, will embark on a massive environmental cleanup campaign in a big show of support for the Global Environmental Week.
"Team Up To Clean Up Day", as the campaign is called, is a partnership between the City, LeadSA and The Star newspaper. It will see the City's MMCs taking the lead in dirtying their hands in a demonstration of their commitment to keeping Johannesburg spotlessly clean.
Expected to join them in clearing illegal dump sites in areas such as Ivory Park, Diepsloot and Zandspruit are armies of community volunteers.
MMC for Environment and for Infrastructure Services Clr Matshidiso Mfikoe has appealed to residents to demonstrate their love for their neighbourhoods by ensuring a rubbish-free environment.
Individual Pikitup depots are all expected to provide additional cleanup services as well as public information on waste management.
Jacky Mashapu, General Manager: Communications in the City's Communications and Stakeholder Management Department, says Pikitup is banking on the support of residents, schools and Jozi@work teams to make a success of this endeavour.
On Monday, the City and Constitution Hill kick-started a three-day Green Festival on Consitution Hill under the theme: "Our City, Our Environment – Should We Care?" in a bid to foster environmental awareness and promote environmental sustainability, especially among the City's youth. The festival ends on Wednesday June 3.