Programme Director,
The MEC of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land Administration and Environmental Affairs, Mr Andries Gamede,
The Executive Mayor of Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Cllr LN Shongwe,
The Executive Mayor of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Cllr T.S. Khoza,
Local councillors,
Community members,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to be with you today in the beautiful Nkomazi Local Municipality, as we are gathered here to launch the Masibekela Recreational Park.

Like many municipalities in South Africa, our people in Nkomazi are also faced by challenges such as poverty, unemployment and lack of basic services. However, the municipality has remained steadfast in its commitment to address these challenges and has made significant progress in broadening access to basic services to its communities in a sustainable manner.

As the Department of Environmental Affairs we are committed to supporting our municipalities to improve the quality of lives of our communities through innovative programmes such as our Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programme (EPIP). Through the funding provided through our EPIP, we work cooperatively with local government to implement environmental projects using labour intensive methods as per the requirements of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

In doing so we are able to create meaningful employment for the unemployed, transfer skills to those involved in these projects and assist in the development of small enterprises.

The key projects under our EPIP are classified according to the following focus areas:

•     working for waste
•     working for the coast
•     working for land
•     people and parks
•     wildlife economy
•     youth environmental services
•     green and open space management

The Masibekela Recreational Parks project that we are launching today falls within the Green and Open Space Management focus area.  Green and Open Space Management have been identified as one of the critical sectors, with the potential to contribute substantially to the generation of jobs within the green economy. The main objective of the open space management amongst other things is to establish eco-friendly open spaces that are safe, attractively designed, well managed for the benefit of all our communities.

Furthermore, the project aims to promote the maximum use of alternative energy sources, green infrastructure and ecosystem services as well ensuring that our children and young people enjoy the playtime and leisure.

We know that that good environmental management coupled with integrated development planning will allow us to build a low carbon economy that supports resilient ecosystems and economies.

When I look around I am certain that you will agree with me that we have succeeded in achieving this goal.

Ladies and gentlemen it gives me great pleasure to also inform you that during the implementation of the project, job opportunities were created for 45 local people, of which 23 were women, 18 were youth and 1 person living with a disability and that resulted in over 38 000 (thirty eight thousand) person days being achieved.

It is also important to note that both accredited and non-accredited training opportunities have been created for the local people equipping them with the necessary skills that will enable them to find employment opportunities on exit from the project. In addition the project has contributed to the development of local small business enterprises and these small businesses have been used in providing services in provision of protective clothing, provision of training, materials and equipment.

The Nkomazi Municipality has played a crucial role since the inception and completion of the project by providing day to day maintenance, and for that we thank you. There is no doubt in my mind that the municipality will continue to do so after the handover and for the entire lifespan of this park.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the benefits which accrued to the municipality and its people from the implementation of the Masibikela Recreational Parks project is part of a broader package of benefits which accrued to the province through the DEA investment of over R142 million for 15 projects across the province during the last funding cycle. As a result a total of 2 163 jobs have been created, as well as important environmental protection and conservation infrastructure has been built.

For the new funding cycle, the Department of Environmental Affairs has approved 19 projects across the following four focus areas across the province:

•     Greening and Open Space Management – 4 projects
•     People and Parks - 10 projects
•     Working on waste - 2 projects
•     Wildlife economy - 3 projects

The total funding we have committed for these 19 projects is approximately R345 million. These projects will not only create further and much needed work opportunities but will also create additional environmental protection and conservation infrastructure, which will further encourage greener environmental management practices.

Ladies and gentlemen the department has also made significant investments in youth development in the province through our Youth Jobs in Waste and Youth Environmental Services programmes. Since the implementation of these two youth specific programmes, 419 job opportunities have been created for youth with more than half of it (267) going to young women. It is clear that these two youth specific programmes have responded significantly to the multiple needs of young people by enabling new opportunities in employment and skills development.

In closing ladies and gentlemen, we can see that the responsible beneficiation of our environmental resources contains enormous potential to contribute towards social and economic development in our country. It is important that we work together as the three spheres of government to unlock its hidden potential in a way that strikes a balance between the social, economic and environment.  I would like to encourage everyone in this community to work together with government in ensuring that we move this beautiful lush province of Mpumalanga forward.

I thank you.