KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Rev. Thulasizwe Buthelezi presided over the signing of contract for 100 youth from KwaHlabisa and Nongoma, who will take part in the flagship programme that is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme.
The Local Government Support Flagship Programme is aimed at supporting small municipalities with additional support to address the issues of waste collection and preserving the environment.
The KZN Cogta had set aside a budget of R10 million to employ 3000 EPWP participants under this programme. Big Five Hlabisa and Nongoma Local Municipality were there first municipalities out of six identified to benefit.
MEC Buthelezi presided over the signing of a 24 months contract and handed over tolls of trade and personal protective equipment to the youth that have been recruited to participate in the programme.
Addressing the community, MEC Buthelezi said most small municipalities were unable to render the waste collection services to the rural communities due to shortage of funds. This, he said, causes damage to the environment as most of the waste ends up in the rivers and grazing fields posing risk to animals and marine life.
“Small municipalities are under strain to deliver on their mandate such as waste collection. Having a programme such as EPWP makes it easy to intervene. Today we employed 100 people in two municipalities who will start the work in July. The programme will address the issues of waste collection, we are working with the environmental affairs department which will provide bins and necessary expertise to deal with the environment. But most importantly, this programme will creates much needed jobs to the youth in rural areas. This is the first phase, other departments will also contribute and add more people into the programme,” he said.
The employed participants will also educate and encourage communities to participate in recycling. They will manage recycling sites and assist people who wish to collect refuse that can be recycled.
The programme will run for 24 months and all recruited employee will start working on July 1, 2025.
Ends.