KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has today proudly unveiled an energy-saving green roof top at the department’s Mayville offices – a pilot project that is already yielding positive results.
“By unveiling this green roof top at our offices, we are excited to promote environmentally-friendly solutions to how our public institutions operate. This project will not only help to save the environment but also our constrained energy expenditure. As we speak in this building alone we have reduced our electricity consumption by thousands a month. We are now moving with speed to have all our municipalities following suit. We want to channel all revenue to service delivery as opposed to paying exorbitant bills. We are optimistic that in few years’ time our municipalities we shall save half of what we are paying now. Operating off the electrical grid completely would be a plus,” said Dube-Ncube.
The Mayville green roof top is part of COP 17 legacy projects for KZN’s public institutions. In addition to Cogta’s Mayville offices, other pilots in the province include Grey’s Hospital, the Office of the Premier and Ezemvelo Wildlife offices – all in Pietermaritzburg -as well as Vryheid Hospital.
The apartheid-era Cogta Mayville offices have poor energy efficiency systems that result in high electricity bills. The building has central lighting and air conditioners which are operational irrespective of the building’s occupancy. The new green roof top is expected to slash the building’s high utility bills.
On the same day, Dube-Ncube also unveiled a special purpose vehicle that will be making life easier for Cogta’s employees and interns with disabilities. In the process of employing disabled staff, a challenge was identified by the department in transporting these staff members to work related activities.
“When we see people with disabilities, we see human beings that have the same potential as able-bodied people but who require special assistance to fulfil that potential. We are now proving that mainstreaming disabled individuals into the labour market is not just an empty phrase. We are proud to be the first department to make this facility available for physically challenged employees,” said Dube-Ncube.
The department believes that a small intervention such as this vehicle will make a huge difference to many disabled individuals. The disabled staff in the department now also play a direct role in a Disability Forum where all matters pertaining to disability are addressed by KZN Cogta’s leadership.
For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403, or Msawakhe Mayisela, 060 966 4220
Date: 4 July 2018