Learners urged to take care of environment
"They are going to grow up knowing the environment has to be kept clean at all times."
The City of Ekurhuleni’s MMC for Environment and Waste Management Services, Eunice Matloga, led the municipality’s Arbor Month celebrations where she planted 20 trees at Slindokuhle Primary School in Etwatwa on September 15.
Along with organisations such as Etwatwa Greening Team and Green Development Foundation, Matloga led the planting of white stinkwood and fruit trees, which she said will provide the learners with shade, and fresh fruit and will stop soil erosion as the school is not tarred.
The MMC encouraged the learners to take care of the environment, saying it is important they stay in a clean and green city.
“The learners’ minds are still fresh. They are going to grow up knowing the environment has to be kept clean at all times. They are also going to help us spread the message to their elders and peers that dumping is not allowed,” said Matloga.
Furthermore, the children were taught the importance of recycling, with the MMC and her team sorting out waste at the school’s dumping site to show the learners which waste was recyclable.
The Etwatwa Greening Team spokesperson, Portia Skhosana, shared Matloga’s sentiments, saying it was important for the learners to understand why they had to live in a clean environment.
“These learners have to know why we have to plant trees and live in a clean environment. When you instil this principle early in them from a young age, they will grow up knowing they have to keep our environment clean and green,” she said.
She added they will have more such awareness programmes to meet and engage with various stakeholders to devise solutions to the province’s illegal dumping problems.
“We have many illegal dumping sites. Our people are getting sick and it’s mostly because of the dirt in our environment. It’s important to teach these learners early so that they can spread the message to their parents and friends.”
Environment warriors
The MMC expressed her satisfaction with the school’s efforts to stay green, saying it was important for the learners to ensure all the trees were taken care of every day.
The school is surrounded by a variety of trees which have been planted around the container classrooms. Although not paved or tarred, it looked greener due to a few grass beds in between the containers, the vegetable garden on its southern part as well and the picturesque Barcelona Park, which surrounds the school on the western side.
However, on its north east side lies an open field with mountains of litter which also extends to parts of the school’s palisade fence while piles of rubble cover the area adjacent to the second entrance of the school.
Matloga said her department had a plan to turn the city’s unused land into green spaces. She pleaded with communities to stop using these open spaces for illegal dumping.
“We are doing our level best as a municipality to fight against illegal dumping. But alone, we won’t win this battle. We appeal to communities to stop illegal dumping. Let’s keep our environment clean and green,” she said.
Also Read: Etwatwa Greening team clean up wetland
Also Read: Organisations urge communities to protect wetlands
