Durban — Ahead of Spring, the eThekwini Municipality launched a Spring clean-up campaign on two beaches on Tuesday.
Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda led a team of politicians, municipal employees and private sector stakeholders on a clean-up of Dakota and Reunion beaches as part of the municipality’s Spring clean-up campaign.
The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, South African Breweries, and Toyota South Africa were also part of the initiative.
The municipality said that the clean-up is a month-long intensive campaign that encourages residents and businesses to keep the environment clean.
The clean-up will be held in the south, north, west and inner regions during September. Its objective is to promote collaboration of internal and external stakeholders to collectively optimise environmental awareness and the cleaning efforts in the city.
Kaunda said keeping the city clean required a collective effort.
“It is everyone's responsibility to keep the environment clean. Residents cannot continue to litter without being aware of the consequences to the environment. We must preserve nature,” Kaunda said.
He said that the city, as a member of the C40 Cities network, prides itself on being a leader in the climate adaptation space. He said the Durban Climate Change Strategy and Climate Action Plan provides a framework for the city’s mitigation and adaptation priorities.
“The city is committed to working with relevant stakeholders to building a climate change-resilient city. Climate change is upon us, and we need to move with speed to implement measures to mitigate its impact,” Kaunda said.
He encouraged residents to desist from illegal dumping and to adhere to the waste collection schedule in their areas.
With the rainy season upon us, Kaunda said residents discarding waste into the stormwater system could lead to flooding.
“It is a collective responsibility to educate others about the importance of using designated municipal sites to dispose of waste. It also costs the municipality millions of rands to clear illegal dump sites and the negative impact a blocked stormwater system has on communities,” Kaunda said.
Daily News