A TOTAL of 43 co-operatives across the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole will benefit from the R40 million, which has been budgeted for the 2019/2020 financial year as part of its Clean and Green Programme.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality announced that more than R100 million is expected to be spent on the programme over a period of three years.
According to municipal spokesperson, Mthubanzi Mniki, the services rendered by the co-operatives will also assist the municipality in accessing some areas that are not easily accessible by waste collection vehicles.
“They will also assist the municipality with community awareness programmes, as well as focusing on cleaning up illegal dumping sites and general litter picking on roadside areas. Each co-operative is expected to employ between 10 to 15 people,” Mniki said.
Speaking at the launch of programme, Nelson Mandela Bay’s Executive Mayor, Mongameli Bobani, said he was very pleased that the majority of the co-operatives appointed were led by women.
“This initiative is not only focusing on cleaning the City. We are also, for the first time, making a bold statement as this administration that previously disadvantaged people on the ground will benefit, with a particular focus on women. When we say we will redress and empower, we walk the talk. This is just the beginning and more projects of a similar nature that will improve service delivery and empower the people at the same time, are in the pipeline,” Bobani said.
A 60-year-old, Liziwe Feleza, from the Uthinga Ntaka Ndini Cooperative in Motherwell, expressed her gratitude about the project.
Feleza added, “I am so excited about this project. At my age, l was not sure that l would ever get a project from the municipality. This is an opportunity to clean the City, our own City. We will not only do the cleaning, but will go as far as spreading awareness about the dangers of illegal dumping.”
Feleza lives with two of her children and five grandchildren. Before the appointment of her co-operative, she was unemployed.
Mayoral Committee Member for Public Health, Yoliswa Pali, said that she would ensure a strict political oversight over this programme.
Pali commented, “I working with the Public Health Standing Committee, will make sure that people do the work on the ground.
“There has to be visible change in our areas. Gone are the days when our people lived in filth that expose their children to a health hazard,” said Pali.
