Deputy Minister plants vegetable garden

Barbara Thompson

On Wednesday, Thompson led a community outreach and engagement initiative on severe weather and climate change utilising her 67 minutes by planting a vegetable garden at Zamani Creche, in Memel.

"Officials from provincial departments in the Free State, the South African Weather Services (SAWS), New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Environmental Affairs officials, Phumelela Municipality and the community of Memel all joined the Deputy Minister and supported the initiative," department spokesperson Albi Modise said.

The SAWS, through the NEPAD embarked on a project to inform and educate extension agents, farmers and other users about the effects of climate change on agricultural activities. "The project aims to capacitate extension officers and farmers by providing agro-meteorological information that will enable them to effectively and efficiently mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture," Modise said.

The project will focus on farmers in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State as they are most affected by weather patterns and climate change.

Thompson also handed over six rubbish bins to the Esizibeni Senior Secondary School in an effort to raise awareness on environmental issues. A presentation was also a part of the programme to teach the community about waste management.

The world celebrates Madiba's birthday on 18 July as it was declared by the United Nations in 2009 as Nelson Mandela International Day. Mandela Day is an initiative dedicated to giving back to those less fortunate, the vulnerable and marginalised in society.

The day also actively encourages service to others, just as Madiba did when he gave many years of his life in service to humanity.