The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will commemorate World Ozone Day with the Kabokweni community and learners from ten surrounding eco-schools on Tuesday, 17 September 2013 at Kabokweni Stadium, Ehlanzeni District Municipality in Mpumalanga.

World Ozone Day is a product of the Montreal Protocol Convention under the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), seeking to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the ozone reducing substances. South Africa is party to both the Vienna Convention for the protection of Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone layer. The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated annually on the 16th September. This day has been marked by the UNEP to commemorate the 16 September 1987, when a group of twenty-four countries came together and signed the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

The observation of World Ozone Day aims to raise awareness on the threats of the depletion of the ozone layer from harmful man made gases and appeal to all industries and citizens to protect it by using products which are ozone-friendly.  Furthermore, the Department of Environmental Affairs intends to expose learners to environment-related careers during the event.  The theme for the celebrations is, “A healthy atmosphere, the future we want”.  

Prior to the event, the Department will accelerate its message to transit into the Green Economy by conducting an awareness campaign on atmospheric emissions to ten identified eco-schools in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality from 10 – 13 September 2013.  

Media are invited to attend the World Ozone Day as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Venue: Kabokweni Community Hall, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga

Time: 11: 00am

To RSVP contact:

Sivuyile Ngaba: 021 441 2788 / 083 958 4663 / SNgaba@environment.gov.za


Ludwe Matanzima: 012 395 1770 / LMatanzima@environment.gov.za

For media enquiries, contact:
Peter Mbelengwa at 082 611 8197 / mbelengwap@dwa.gov.za