The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, launched a new cycle of Working for the Coast projects, with a budget of over R292 million, in the Louwville community, Saldanha Bay on Friday 27th September 2013. The new cycle will run for the duration of two years covering the entire coastline from Alexander Bay to Kosi Bay.
The Working for the Coast projects are part of the Expanded Public Works Programme initiative of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). These projects aim to create job opportunities, training and skills development, particularly in rural communities. Over R19 159 000 of the total budget for the projects will be allocated for training of beneficiaries by accredited institutions. Primary beneficiaries of this programme are largely local women and the youth.
According to the Deputy Minister’s spokesperson, Peter Mbelengwa, the Department aims to create access to pristine beaches and a well conserved coastline through these projects. In a statement released on 27 September, Mbelengwa said the many other benefits of this project include how it will not only contribute to the country being a tourism destination of choice across the world, but will also bring about much needed revenue to the coastal towns and communities, whilst creating job opportunities in the tourism sector.
“These projects will generate approximately 2 536 work opportunities and 5 500 full-time equivalent opportunities, over two years. The beneficiaries of this programme will help in achieving the Government’s objective of responsible coastal management by contributing to the development and maintenance of coastal infrastructure along the coast. They will also assist municipalities in obtaining and maintaining blue flag status for their beaches, regular coastal clean-ups, as well as the removal of invasive alien vegetation,” said the statement.
Prior to the launch, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi, together with members of Saldanha community, collected over 40 bags of litter as part of the International Coastal Clean-up Day celebration.
International Coastal Clean-up Day is an annual global event celebrated in September since the first gathering of 2800 volunteers came together to clean up sections of the Texas coastline in the United States, in 1986. This day is dedicated to the improvement of beaches, coastal regions and surrounding areas throughout the world. It is an initiative that aims to heighten public awareness about the importance of clean coasts and to promote efforts to prevent water pollution.
Deputy Mininister Mabudafhasi encouraged members of the public to take ownership of the oceans and “create waves of change”. “We, as communities, must become involved in the management of our coasts and must take responsibility for keeping our coasts clean and healthy, ridding it from both seen and unseen pollution,” she said.
