R2m waste project to benefit NW youth

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The project, which started at the beginning of Youth Month, June 2014, is funded through the Department of Public Works' Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) Grant.

The project is set to assist municipalities raise awareness about waste management, encourage youth to take part in waste management ventures, forge partnership of stakeholders to provide resources for the implementation of the project, whilst creating temporary employment.

The project will focus on waste management, which includes waste recycling or removal in areas such as schools, sidewalks, parks and central business district, amongst others.

At least 100 young people from four municipalities including Tswaing, Mamusa, Maquassi Hills and Moretele Local Municipalities will benefit from the project, where the employed youth will receive a monthly stipend of R1 640.

The project will run over a period of 10 months. At the end of the project, the young people will receive certificates of competence in basic waste management. A prize will also be awarded to the cleanest community, where the beneficiaries were deployed.

Spokesperson for North West Local Government and Human Settlement Department, Dineo Lolokwane, said that once the programme is rolled out successfully in these four municipalities, the department will engage with the Department of Public Works to avail more funds so that it will be extended to other municipalities.

"The daily running of the project will be monitored by designated waste officers at municipality level and they will be supported by the department," said Lolkwane.

Over the last 20 years of freedom, South Africa has made great strides to support young South Africans so that they can actively participate in the mainstream economy.

This year's National Youth Day will be held under the theme, "Youth Moving South Africa Forward". President Jacob Zuma is expected to deliver a keynote address during the National Youth Day Commemoration to be held on 16 June 2014 at Galeshewe, Kimberley.

In line with the 20 years of freedom and democracy celebrations, the 2014 youth month programme will entail a month long programme aimed at highlighting the work of government through unveiling and launching projects, while having conversations with the youth on the progress made in the past 20 years.