Clean City Summit > Mayoral Address

Registration|Programme Pictorial | Zami Nkosi, MD|

Address by the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Amos Masondo, on the occasion of the Clean City Summit held at Wanderers Club, Illovo in Johannesburg on 9 September 2009.

" Programme Director; MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development: Ms Nandi Mayathula-Khoza; Madam Speaker: Clr Nkele Ntingane; Chief Whip of Council: Clr Noncebe Molwele; MMC for Infrastructure and Services: Clr Christine Walters; Members of the Mayoral Committee; Fellow Councillors; City Manager: Mr Mavela Dlamini; Managers and Officials of Council; Representatives of Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations; Business; Distinguished Guests; The Media; Ladies and Gentlemen; Programme Director

It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to be part of this very important occasion — the Clean City Summit.
The theme of this Summit is:

“ALL HANDS ON WASTE”.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa lists the objects of local government as follows:
• To provide accountable and democratic government to local communities;
• To ensure a safe and healthy environment;
• To promote local economic development;
• To involve community organisations, other stakeholders and communities in local government related matters and;
• To ensure that all this work is done in keeping with available resources and in a sustainable manner.

CLEAN CITY AND 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP

REA VAYA BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) PROJECT

In February 2007 former President Thabo Mbeki, in his state of the nation address, indicated support for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). On the 6th of June 2009 President Zuma indicated that BRT will continue in an inclusive manner and mandated the Minister of Transport to take the idea forward.

In his state of the Province address, Premier Paul Mashatile on the 16th of February 2009 said: “together with the City of Joburg, we will ensure that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System is successful and that it is linked to our efforts to build an integrated public transport system, which is efficient, reliable and safe”… Subsequently, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, in her state of the province address, declared support for Rea Vaya.

Programme Director, let me take this opportunity to remind you that in October 2007, the City and the taxi industry representatives signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This was followed by a similar signing of the MoU by both Metrobus and PUTCO with the City of Johannesburg.

This provided a broad framework for the ongoing interaction on transport issues between the City of Johannesburg and the taxi associations.

The establishment of the BRT Joint Steering Committee constituted of both the Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council (South African National Taxi Council-aligned) and Top Six (National Taxi Alliance-aligned) marked an important milestone in this process.

We also wish to emphasise that the minibus sector along with bus operators will become the nucleus of the new BRT bus operator consortiums.

We believe that all South Africans, including those in the minibus taxi sector, stand to benefit from the safe, affordable, faster, cleaner, accessible and more reliable public transport system.

We call on all South Africans and the citizens of Johannesburg to further deepen support for this great initiative.
Did you know that if only 15% of car users who live close to the City switch to the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system, we will save 382 940 tons of CO2 by 2010 and 1,6 million tons by 2020?

Rea Vaya is the single largest Climate Change initiative ever undertaken by the City of Johannesburg and represents a major turning point in how the city deals with congestion, pollution and Green House Gasses as a result of transportation.

GREENING OF THE CITY

Greening of the city remains one of our key commitments.
• The City committed to planting 200 000 trees by the year 2010. To date more than 100 000 of these trees have been planted;
• In addition, many parks have been developed;
• Seven cemeteries were upgraded;
• Rehabilitation of Klipriver and Jukskei river continues and more open spaces are being created;
and
• The City continues to grass 101 soccer fields mainly in the South (and formerly disadvantaged areas). More than 50% of the target has been met.

CLEAN, GREEN AND SAFE CITY

Our cities, towns and municipalities are not only concerned with local government environmental conditions, but are also equally concerned about global sustainability.
We are therefore called upon to make substantial changes in the way in which we run institutions and governance, promote economic policies and provide incentives, in social and behaviour factors, in advancing technology and knowledge.

Programme Director, in 2005, the City adopted the Integrated Environmental Management Policy (IEMP). This policy outlines the City's approach to Environmental Management. This is a holistic Policy document with high-level principles and key strategic objectives followed by targets for various identified sectors such as in:

• Air quality,
• Waste management,
• Catchment management,
• Conservation management,
• Good environmental governance, and
• Development management.

The goals and standards that have been set are within the context of the environmental challenges facing the City and the ability for the City to address them. These goals are in line with national standards and international commitments.

Ladies and Gentlemen, various pieces of Environmental Legislation are in place to ensure sound environmental management and the protection of natural resources. The Constitution itself places an obligation on local government to promote a “Safe & healthy environment” as listed in Section 7. In addition, Section 24 states that “Everyone has the right to have their environment protected, for the benefit of present andfuture generations”.

o Furthermore, Section 2 of the National Waste Act 59 of 2008, has a set of objectives, which have strong focus on the following:

o Minimising consumption of natural resources and;

o Avoiding and minimising waste generation.

Programme Director, the City of Johannesburg has, amongst others, put the following programmes in place to promote waste reduction:

• Facilitation of the establishment of buy back centres in strategic areas;
• To promote public & industry education and information on best practices on waste handling and impacts.
• To issue new waste licenses and renewals to all waste operators.
• To roll-out recycling interventions during major events.
• To review Waste By-laws and the Integrated Waste Management Plan for the City in line with the new National Waste Act.
• To undertake compliance monitoring at waste handling facilities – landfill sites and community buyback centres.
• To facilitate By-law enforcement through JMPD and Environmental Health;
• Introduction of the underground waste bins; and
• Support of Environment Forums and community clean ups.

Programme Director, if waste is not properly managed, it will worsen global warming and climate change. The current patterns of consumption, production, trade and investment are clearly unsustainable. This requires of us, amongst other things, to have in place adequate disaster response strategies.

We need to act to turn the world from its current path of unsustainable development. We need to defeat poverty and underdevelopment. There are complex links between poverty, wealth and environmental degradation.

It is the wealthy that produce the most waste, and consumes the most resources – in particular water and energy. It is therefore the wealthy that contribute the highest greenhouse gas emissions and lead to the negative effect on climate change.

In most countries, it is the poor who live closer to waste and mine dumps, who are forced to consume unpurified water, experience poor waste management, suffer from air pollution and live with sewerage running down streets.

Programme Director, in this Summit today, we would like to solicit the support of all Joburg citizens to enhance the City’s efforts through Pikitup to create a clean environment in which people would like to live, work, and play.

In order to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, citizens would need to understand the methodology of separating waste before it goes to the landfill site and this waste can be reused and recycled. To do this simple colour coding exercise it is proposed globally that colours are used to identify which item goes into which bin to be recycled.

§ Orange stands for Paper and goes into Orange Bags and Bins.
§ Blue stands for Plastic products.
§ Green stands for Garden/Organic waste.
§ Red stands for medical waste.
§ Yellow stands for hazardous nuclear waste.
§ White stands for glass waste and,
§ Black stands for non-recyclable waste, etc.

RED CARD INITIATIVE

The Red Card initiative is aimed at empowering the ordinary citizen. If citizens see anyone littering or dumping illegally they can show them the Red Card to say that it is not cool to do what the offender is doing. The citizen will also have the right to immediately call the contact number on the card to inform the authorities who will in turn take the appropriate action.

SCHOOL ECO RANGERS INTIATIVE

The School Eco Rangers initiative is to effectively communicate with the youth. We require a channel of communication through schools. The City proposes the establishment of Eco Clubs at all schools. The clubs will be made up of members from every grade who will be elected each year. One boy and a girl from each grade will become Eco Rangers. Their responsibility will be to keep their grade and their school informed of environmental issues at all times. They will also be responsible for the schools cleanliness and participation in larger Environmental Forums.

BACK TO THE BASICS

Programme Director, we all have the responsibility to build on the basics:

• Removal of waste in every part of the City;
• Utilising the “100 spots idea” to remove waste from the illegal dumping sites;
• Make the block by block approach more of a reality, 24 hours of the day and 7 days a week;
• Ensure that owners of sites and abandoned buildings are traced and held responsible for rubbish and waste on their properties;
• Communicate with business and ensure that they take care of waste generated on their properties;
• Pedestrians and residents to stop littering and the municipality should ensure enforcement of by-laws; and
• Identify and share best practice and adapt it to our own specific conditions.

Programme Director, I trust that this Summit will create a renewed awareness about waste management issues and how they affect local government. I trust that it will enable us to exchange information on practical actions to combat the effects of waste management.

Let this Summit consider each question put before it carefully, debate and find solutions.

Once again, on behalf of the City of Johannesburg, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Clean City Summit.

Thank you "