Rabie Ridge residents educated about wetlands
RABIE RIDGE – Maru Ciberconnect CEO Joyline Josamu said that their aim was to educate residents to manage the waste and keep their wetlands clean at all times.
Maru Ciberconnect with the help of multiple government stakeholders as well as the National Lottery Commission held a Wetland Day celebration on 26 February in Rabie Ridge.
Maru Ciberconnect is a non-profit organisation which aims to improve the quality of life of previously disadvantaged communities. Chief executive officer for Maru Ciberconnect Joyline Josamu said in celebration of International Wetland Day, they were cleaning up the wetland on Boshof Street in Rabie Ridge and encouraging the community to maintain it.
“Today we brought our partners with to make sure that the community is aware of the sustainable waste management and recycling programmes,” Josamu said.
“It is important to preserve these wetlands because they act as water erosion barriers. If or when there are floods or water erosion and water was to reach the wetland, that flood or water erosion will stop.”
She said the wetlands were also a habitat for wildlife.”Normally you will find reptiles and birds which means if we preserve wetlands we also preserve wildlife and natural resources.”
Donald Radingoana, the Region A regional manager for Pikitup, said their partnership with the City of Johannesburg, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and Department of Environmental Affairs was aimed at educating community members on how they should manage their waste, starting from collection to the storage process.
“From September last year until now, we have been distributing dustbins…however, we have noticed that some of the residents are not using the bins to contain waste, but are rather using them to dispose the waste in public places which is how the dumping is recurring. Also, some homeowners do not allow accessibility of the bins to their tenants which contributes to dumping,” Radingoana added.
He concluded that they were going door to door to educate people about waste and have allocated pick up spots for community members to dump their rubbish.
Details: Maru Ciberconnect 071 0213270.
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/280467/glen-austin-residents-plead-with-hawkers-to-clean-up/
