01-08-2025
eThekwini Municipality partners with DFFE for impactful environmental initiatives
The eThekwini Municipality will enter into a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment to undertake environment-related programmes.
Image: FILE
The eThekwini Municipality will enter into a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) to undertake environment-related programmes in Durban.
Councillors approved the collaborations between the municipality's Recreation and Parks Directorate, Natural Resources Department, and the DFFE at a council meeting on Thursday. The environmental programme will also be facilitated with other institutions of similar interests or common goals.
The objectives of this collaboration are as follows: Cleaning and greening of public open space.
Coastal rehabilitation and maintenance across the eThekwini coastline.
Protect and restore natural open spaces, including riverine ecosystems.
Enhance conservation of biodiversity and habitat protection.
Capacity building and skills development for local communities.
Enhancing the municipality's environmental management capacity.
Promoting environmental education and awareness.
Supporting diversity protection, environmental conservation within municipal nature reserves.
Among the benefits of engaging in this collaboration are improved coastal and environmental infrastructure maintenance at no direct cost to the municipality.
"This collaboration aims to implement environmental programmes such as Working for the Coast/Coast Care, Source to Sea, Working for Fire, Working for Water, People and Parks, and other programmes initiated to respond to adverse climatic conditions,' stated the municipal report.
These programmes are also implemented as per the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) initiative. During the implementation of the programme, workers are paid a stipend by the national department and may receive training for future employability, and such training is facilitated by the provincial Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs.
At the council meeting, Welekazi Sibiya, DA eThekwini councillor, alleged that the city has a climate committee that has yet to convene since the election of the eThekwini council in 2021.
According to Sibiya, this is unacceptable and displays the city's lack of urgency in dealing with this important matter.
She said that eThekwini is a place of incredible natural beauty, from its golden beaches to its lush greenery and vibrant communities, but with this beauty comes responsibility.
She said a clean environment is not just about how nice things look; it is about health, sustainability, and the legacy left for future generations.
'A clean environment boosts tourism and economic growth. By maintaining cleanliness, we not only preserve our heritage but also create opportunities for jobs and development. Climate change has been cited as a risk, and mitigating the impacts of climate change is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Our planning must reflect our seriousness in dealing with the impacts of changing weather patterns,' she said.
Sandile Gwala, IFP eThekwini councillor, said the initiative came from Narend Singh, the deputy minister of DFFE.
Gwala stated people flocked to Durban because of its warm climate and tourism appeal.
'This collaboration will assist and improve much on our eThekwini 2030 vision and will also benefit us in improving coastal and environmental infrastructure maintenance at no cost to the city," he said.
Gwala added that this will also create job opportunities for the EPWP programme, which was facing a crisis in eThekwini.
'The issue is transparency and accountability of the EPWP programme. We must monitor this when it kickstarts.'
