Keynote Address by Deputy Minister Swarts, during the North West Service Delivery Imbizo and the Launch of the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project in Madibeng Local Municipality, Bojanala District, North-West Province

15 April 2025

Programme Director
All MMCs
All our Councillors
Traditional Leaders
Ladies and gentlemen, community members, and partners, greetings!

It is an honour and a privilege to stand before you today to launch the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project here in Madibeng Local Municipality, Bojanala District Municipality. Before I delve into my speech on the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project, I wish to first honour and thank both the government leaders as well as the traditional leaders who are present here today.

Ladies and gentlemen, earlier today I met with the traditional leaders from the Madibeng area and in that meeting we discussed a range of issues that affect our communities including the issue of tackling climate change through the planting of trees in our communities. Our country and continent are grappling with the devastating effects of climate change and tree planting is one of the most effective strategies we can use to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. It is for this reason that President Cyril Ramaphosa mandated our department to lead the implementation of his Presidential Ten Million Trees Programme. This programme aims to plant ten million trees in a period of five years.

To fast-track this programme, I have put a challenge to the nation to plant 1 million trees on the 24 September 2025 when we celebrate Arbor Month. The target that is set is not only for the DFFE or government, but it is a call for action to all sectors of our society to take part in achieving the target. I have in our meeting with the traditional leaders this morning, called on them to galvanise our communities to participate in this campaign. To further support this campaign, the DFFE is today leaving 400 trees here in Madibeng. Some of the trees will be given to traditional leaders in the area to plant or donate to households in their communities. Ladies and gentlemen, I once again call on you to participate in our challenge to the nation to plant 1 million trees on the 24 September 2025 when we celebrate Arbor Month.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to talk about the launch of the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project here in Madibeng Local Municipality, Bojanala District Municipality. Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment. This initiative, which is a key part of our national efforts to manage waste more effectively, demonstrates our commitment to tackling one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges: electronic waste (known as e-waste).

As many of us are aware, e-waste is growing at an alarming rate. It is now considered the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide. The proliferation of technology and the consumer-driven nature of our society have led to millions of tons of electronic devices being discarded each year. These devices, from old cell phones and laptops to televisions and household appliances, contain harmful materials such as lead, mercury, and many other toxic chemicals, which can have devastating effects on our environment and health if not properly managed.

In South Africa, we generate over 360,000 tons of e-waste annually, and unfortunately, only a small fraction of 10% of this is properly managed. The rest ends up in landfills, or worse, is illegally dumped, posing serious risks to our ecosystems. Our waste laws do not allow the disposal of e-waste to landfill. This is done with the intention of diverting this waste stream from landfill for recycling purposes.

As part of our efforts to address this growing E-waste problem, South Africa has implemented the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for the Electrical and Electronic Equipment sector since November 2021 which compels the producers of electronic products to take-back and ensure proper recycling thereof.

In Madibeng Local Municipality, like many other parts of our country, improper disposal of e-waste has become a growing concern. The increasing number of electronic devices being used without a proper system for disposal has led to the accumulation of waste that harms our environment and contaminates water and soil. Today’s launch of the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project is our response to this growing crisis.

The goal of this pilot project is to test and implement a sustainable system for recycling of e-waste in Madibeng Local Municipality. This initiative is being launched in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Madibeng Local Municipality, Bojanala District Municipality, Industry and the Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs). Through this collaboration, we aim to not only manage and dispose of e-waste responsibly but also raise awareness among communities about the importance of recycling and the dangers of improper e-waste disposal.

The success of this project relies heavily on the participation of the local community. By providing households with easy access to collection or drop off points, recycling facilities and offering guidance on how to properly separate and dispose of their old electronic devices, we aim to change the way residents think about their waste. The wheelie bins provided by the Department will serve as dedicated receptacles for collecting e-waste, ensuring that it is separated from general household waste and directed to specialized recycling channels. This process will prevent toxic substances from leaching into the soil and water, protecting both our environment and our health.

Furthermore, this project is about more than just waste management, it is about creating jobs and stimulating local economic development. Through this initiative, we will be able to engage the PROs that are committed to facilitating the proper recycling of e-waste. These organizations play a crucial role in managing the end-of-life phase of electronic products and are an important part of the national effort to promote a circular economy, where materials are reused and recycled rather than discarded. Through collaboration with these organizations, we can ensure that this pilot project is sustainable and scalable, with the potential to expand across other regions in the future.

The importance of this project cannot be overstated. Not only will it help Madibeng Local Municipality manage its e-waste more effectively, but it will also contribute to our country’s broader environmental goals. As part of the National Waste Management Strategy 2020, South Africa has committed to reducing waste sent to landfills, increasing recycling rates, and promoting a circular economy. The EPR regulations, which place responsibility for end-of-life products on producers, are key to this vision. By encouraging industry involvement in waste management, we are ensuring that those who create waste are also part of the solution.

At the recent Meeting of Parties and the Conference of Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the delegates considered how to promote life-cycle refrigerant management to prevent unwanted emissions of chemicals such as Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump sector through recovery, recycling, and reclamation efforts, which is also electronic equipment. In addition, our Cabinet has directed us to use South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 to develop interventions to prevent unwanted emissions of chemicals such as Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump sector through recovery, recycling, and reclamation efforts.

We are embarking on E-Waste Recycling Pilot project here in Madibeng local municipality at a time when South Africa has assumed the Presidency of the G20. This project remains crucial to showcase to the world what South Africa is capable of. We have identified, circular economy and extended producer responsibility as one of the sub-priorities of the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG)’s focus area on Chemicals and Waste Management.

Ladies and gentlemen, in its attempt to create jobs and contribute to the economic development of Madibeng, the DFFE has come up with strategies to divert waste away from landfill sites and the Department is providing financial assistance to enterprises in the area. One such enterprises is the Katlego Waste Recycling, which is situated here in Madibeng. I wish to commend this organisation, and express my hope that it grows into a large business so that it can create more jobs and contribute to local economic development.

As part of the legacy and ensuring that South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 is felt throughout the country, the North-West Province will also be hosing some of the G20 meetings for the Environment Climate and Sustainability Working Group. In the coming months, we will monitor the progress of this pilot project to ensure that it meets its objectives. This includes tracking the volume of e-waste collected, the effectiveness of the community awareness campaigns, and the number of local jobs created through the project. Our goal is to ensure that this pilot project becomes a success story - a model that can be replicated across other municipalities in North-West and beyond.

As we move forward with this project, I urge all the residents of Madibeng Local Municipality to take part. This initiative offers a chance to make a real difference in the way we manage waste in our communities. By working together, we can help ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, that valuable materials are recovered, and that our environment is protected for future generations.

In conclusion, the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project in Madibeng Local Municipality is a step in the right direction, but it is only the beginning. Achieving long-term success in managing e-waste requires continued efforts from all stakeholders: government, industry, and communities. Let us work together to make this project a success, and let it serve as a model for other municipalities to follow. I am confident that, with the commitment of all those involved, we can achieve our collective goal of a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Thank you! 

For media enquiries please contact:

Peter Mbelengwa:   
Tel:+27 82 611 8197   
E-mail: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za