Major green award for City of uMhlathuze
THE city of uMhlathuze has scooped the prestigious title of second greenest municipality in the country, earning R3- million prize money in the process.
The countrywide Greenest Municipality competition committee of the Department of Environmental Affairs, made the announcement on Wednesday after committee representatives and a department delegation visited all the municipalities who were in the running.
The competition is held annually and municipalities are visited to assess various categories.
These include waste management strategies, general cleanliness, reduction of greenhouse gases, greening of the city, pollution levels, air quality, energy efficiency, conservation, recycling projects, landscaping, tree planting, water quality and landfill management.
Department of Environmental Affairs’ Mandla Shabangu said this was the first year in more than two decades that the department could not hold the ceremony because of the Covid- 19 pandemic.
‘ We decided to visit all the winners, handing over accolades and thanking them for the sterling job they have done in protecting and caring for our environment.
‘ uMhlathuze was the first city we visited and we still have to criss- cross the country,’ said Shabangu.
The award was received by Deputy Mayor Dudu Sibiya, Speaker Slondile Mkhize, Acting Municipal Manager Thandiwe Mathebula and Deputy Municipal Manager: Development, Nontsundu Ndonga.
‘ This award is highly appreciated and it shows that we are heading in the right direction,’ said Sibiya.
‘ We acknowledge all our community members and organisations ensuring the city remains clean,’ said Mkhize.
‘ We want to encourage young people to venture into recycling businesses to fend for themselves.
‘As much as we appreciate all the efforts by management, employees, councillors and the executive leadership of the city, we would love to be number one.
‘ We need support to achieve this. It is not just about the competition, but rather about the well- being of our people in the environment they live in,’ said Mkhize.
The prize money will be invested in community projects aimed at greening the city and keeping it clean.