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Cleaner Gauteng: Province joins Deputy President's national clean-up drive
Gauteng is expected to play a major role in the newly launched Clean Cities and Towns Campaign, a national initiative led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Unveiled on June 6, the campaign aims to tackle urban waste, promote environmental responsibility and inspire civic pride in public spaces across SA.
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has pledged its strong support. MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko attended the launch alongside Mashatile, reinforcing the department's commitment to cleaner, safer environments that support better public health outcomes.
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Structured for a nationwide rollout, the campaign relies on collaboration with local municipalities, government departments and community organisations to achieve a unified effort in environmental upliftment.
A key element of the drive is the Bontle ke Botho programme, which encourages municipalities, including Gauteng's, to compete in keeping their areas clean and well-maintained. The programme also seeks to foster local pride and a culture of shared responsibility for public spaces.
Speaking at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown, Mashatile urged communities to take ownership of the initiative.
'We call upon all communities to come on board and do their part in ensuring cleaner spaces,' he said, stressing the importance of active citizen participation.
The campaign aligns closely with existing GDoH efforts to promote clean, healthy communities. Last year, Nkomo-Ralehoko handed over a thriving vegetable garden in the N12 informal settlement in Benoni. It was developed on a former dumping site, fulfilling a promise she made in September 2023 to turn the area into a sustainable food source for residents.
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That project reflects the campaign's core goals: improving public well-being through practical, community-driven and sustainable action.
'There is a strong link between clean environments and public health,' said Nkomo-Ralehoko.'Such efforts play a vital role in preventing illness and promoting well-being.'
The choice of Kliptown's Walter Sisulu Square, deeply tied to SA's history of unity and progress, was a symbolic nod to the campaign's vision of community-led transformation.
The initiative also supports the District Development Model, which aims to improve service delivery through better co-ordination between national, provincial and local government.
With strong leadership from Mashatile, support from provincial bodies such as the GDoH, and the involvement of local communities, the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign should make a lasting impact on how South Africans live, work and care for their environments.
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