Minister Barbara Creecy to unveil the mass employment programme to augment the Municipal Cleaning and Greening initiative In Gqeberha

08 November 2023

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Ms Barbara Creecy, will unveil the department's mass employment programme to augment the Cleaning and Greening initiative on Friday, 10 November 2023, in Motherwell, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM), Gqeberha.

The Municipal Cleaning and Greening initiative will be implemented in 14 prioritised municipalities across the nine provinces through the department's EPWP mass employment in-house model, which allows it to implement and manage projects using its own staff.

This initiative is dedicated to combating environmental degradation and eliminating litter and illegal dumping throughout our nation. The program's core focus is to achieve these goals through extensive public employment, emphasising empowering women, youth, and individuals with disabilities. At least 2000 participants are being recruited in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMB) as part of the In-House Model.

On the same day, Minister Creecy will also lead the Youth in Waste Summit at the Anthenaeum in Gqeberha. The summit will host 200 youth entrepreneurs from the who are in or aspiring to embark on ventures within the industry. During the summit, Minister Creecy will unveil commitments from the private sector directed towards youth-owned businesses in the waste sector. The summit is a collaborative effort between the DFFE, the NMBMM, and the Green Youth Network (GYN).

Members of the media are invited to join the minister as follows:

Cleaning and greening and unveiling of the mass employment programme - Motherwell

Date: Friday, 10 November 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue 1: Douglas Mbopha High School – NU2 KD Mathanzima Cresent, Motherwell
Venue 2: NU2 Clinic Motherwell - 1 Zamukulungisa Street
Venue3: Old Apostolic Church - NU2 W M Maku St, Motherwell, Gqeberha

Youth In Waste Summit

Time: 11h00
Venue: The Athenaeum, Gqeberha

To RSVP, please contact:
Paul Sigutya
Cell: 082 883 5570
E-mail: psigutya@dffe.gov.za

For media enquiries, please contact:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197