With South Africa producing 12.7 million tonnes of waste per year, the authorities of this southern African country have just released R5 million (just over US$311,000) to improve the waste management system in the municipalities of Cederberg and Matzikama in the Western Cape.
The South African government continues to implement its national waste management strategy. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment is allocating R5 million (just over $311,000) to strengthen the waste management system in the Western Cape. The funding will be used to purchase collection vehicles, including tipper trucks, for the municipalities of Cederberg and Matzikama in the town of Citrusdal, which has a population of about 60 000.
“When households do not benefit from regular waste collection, they resort to informal means of disposal and, as a result, fly-tipping sites develop, attract rats and lead to environmental contamination and leaching of waste into our water systems. This has a negative impact on our environment and poses serious health risks to our citizens,” says South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Barbara Creecy.
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In May 2022, the South African government provided 20 municipalities, such as Ba-Phalaborwa and Collins Chabane in Limpopo province, with 24 waste collection trucks worth a total of R44.5 million (more than US$2.8 million). This initiative also ties in with the Good Green Deeds programme launched in 2019 by President Cyril Ramaphosa to improve household waste collection and promote the circular economy in the Rainbow Nation.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
