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SUNDAY RIVER VALLEY MUNICIPALITY
Is the greenest municipality in Eastern Cape
The Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) has been announced as the Eastern Cape's Greenest Municipality for the year 2023/2024 and has been awarded R500 000 cash prize.
This was after the citrus-rich municipality was announced as the Greenest Municipality in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality last year and was awarded R50 000 and a spot in the provincial competition. SRVM also placed 2nd in the local municipality category at the 2022 National Arbor City Awards and brought home a cash prize of R300 000.
The greenest municipality competition comes about through a call from the District Municipality and the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) for the Provincial competition.
Municipalities participate by completing an entry form and providing a portfolio of evidence looking at several aspects that constitute the environmental management ecosystem. These include overall strategy, environmental sustainability, tree planting, awareness and maintenance, policies in place, public facilities, open space management, recycling, awareness, energy efficiency measures, water quality management and other elements which the department deems important.
According to (DEDEAT), the Greenest Municipality Awards are held annually to recognize attempts and efforts performed by municipalities to build capacity, raise awareness, and sustain best practices around waste management and environmental management at large and eliminate the risks caused by pollution to human health and the environment.
Speaking after receiving the news, the Mayor of SRVM, Cllr. Solethu Lucas, said the R500 000 cash reward will go far in assisting with the funding of the municipality’s greening, cleaning, and environmental conservation initiatives.
“As we celebrate 30 years of democracy in 2024, we are dedicating the funds to a special 30 Green Deeds for 30 Years of Democracy programme which encapsulates several activities directed towards better awareness, greening, tree planting, maintenance, and eradication of alien species,” he added.
The municipality has partnered with the relevant government departments, civil society, business, schools, and farming community, to coordinate programmes to equip residents with information around recycling, educate them about the importance of greening and environmental conservation, tree planting, beautification of spaces, and rehabilitation of illegal waste disposal sites.
“As Sundays River Valley we are proud of the partnerships we have. We have seen our local businesses supporting our initiatives with personnel and other resources towards the shared vision of a greener and cleaner Valley,” he continued.
“We appreciate all the support we have received from our stakeholders and residents who have joined hands with us to play their part in our #keepsrvmcleanAndgreen Campaign,” he added.
Future Goals
Speaking on the municipalitie's future and goals, Municipal Manager Mr Thabiso Klaas said the municipality will focus on strengthening the recycling business component, capacitating waste collectors, linking them with markets and treating the work they do like any other business, creating opportunities and promoting the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle system.
“We are looking at getting every community member buying into energy efficiency methods at a household level,” he said.
"The goal for the municipality is to see a 100% implemented strategy, and take lessons learned into the new strategy, with an end-goal to see everyone, from parents to kids adopting a green lifestyle." - Mayor, Cllr. Solethu Lucas
