Jozi@Work in major drive to rid city of alien plants
31 January 2017
The City of Johannesburg’s Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) is to undertake a massive drive to eliminate non-indigenous plants in Region E through the Jozi@Work programme over three months at a total cost of more than R468 950.
Region E comprises areas such as Alexandra, Sandton, Sandown, Wynberg, Fourways, Atholl, Bramley, Bruma, Bryanston, River Club, Marlboro, Sandringham, Waverley, Woodmead, Saxonwold and Savoy Estate.
The Alien Invasive Plant Species Control project is scheduled to start at the beginning of March and finish at the end of May 2017.
A suitable cooperative with at least 20 employees will be engaged by the City to undertake the project, a Jozi@Work regional forum was told at East Bank Hall in Alexandra on Monday January 30.
Areas to be covered include sites along William Nicol Road (at Stand 928 River Club Extension), East Street, Ash Street, River Street, Outspan Street, Brooke Street, East River Street, North Street and Centre Street (near the Marlboro-N1 Road).
The preferred cooperative will be expected to have basic cutting tools, herbicides management skills, a good understanding of risks associated with such a project, supervisory skills, knowledge of health and safety standards and good communication skills.
The successful cooperative’s responsibilities will include loading cleared alien invasive plants onto trucks and disposing of them. The contract amount also covers fuel and oil costs for machinery used.
The project is aimed at contributing to the City’s overall objective in relation to biodiversity, which is to enhance human development and wellbeing through sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of the ecosystem.
“Before we start the project, we will take workers to the sites and help them identify the non-indigenous plants we are planning to remove,” said Support Chavalala, a Biodiversity Specialist who presented the work package.
Chavalala said invasive alien species were organisms that were non-native to an ecosystem that might cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect residents.
He said the invasive plants control would help enhance the growth of indigenous plant species within both natural and artificial landscapes.
“This problem continues to exacerbate poverty and threaten the development of the native plants,” Chavalala added.
He said invasive alien species impacted on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and natural systems, “which are important basis of people’s livelihoods in developing countries like South Africa”.
The closing date for the submissions of the expression of interest forms is Wednesday 8 February 2017 at the Klipfontein View Community Centre and Region E Head Office at 137 Daisy Street corner of Grayston Drive, Sandton.
The offices are open from 9am to 3pm. Please call Jozi@Work coordinators Phindi Lethoko and Lennette Fouche on (011) 582-1452 and (011) 582-1481 respectively for further information.