Umuziwabantu Municipality in partnership with the South African Local Government Association, Ugu District Municipality supported by the Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs department held a waste management campaign on the 6th August under the theme “My Waste- My Business”.
The aim of the clean-up or waste management campaign is to capacitate municipalities to improve community awareness and participation in environmental management activities. Communities are often not properly informed about how to keep their spaces clean as well as to cooperate in ensuring the sustainability of services provided to them. The campaign also aims to raise awareness about the three tiers of government, their roles, and how they are interlinked.
The event was held at the residential area of Ghost Town and supported by the council of uMuziwabantu Local Municipality, officials, and community members. It was officially opened by Cllr Ace Houston who mentioned that the waste management campaign was being held for the 3rd time by the municipality. This echoed the sustainability emphasised when the campaigns were initiated in 2014. However, there was still a sense of miscommunication and lack of knowledge from the community regarding waste management and this meant the community education and involvement needs to continue.
The head of Parks and Recreations within the municipality, Mzwandile Mbangatha highlighted that rubbish skips that had been previously available at specific areas of the town had been vandalised by residents. The Municipal Infrastructure Services Advisor from the South African Local Government Association explained the municipal role in waste management and she also encouraged community members to play their role in supporting the municipality when it comes to waste management.
“Waste is not just the responsibility of the government nor is it a job opportunity for the unemployed. It is as expensive to clean, management dispose of wasteful substances as it is to provide any other public amenity” emphasised Vazi.