Date: 02/08/2010
Source: The United Democratic Movement
Title: UDM: Holomisa: Address by the UDM president, at the launch of the afforestation programme, Mqanduli

The Programme Director, Chief Nkosi Nodumile Holomisa, Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa, Honourable Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, amakhosi, executive mayors and councillors, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to provide you with a brief background on why we are gathered here today at this official launch of the afforestation programme, which is being implemented by CarbonWorx, a division of the JSE-listed entity FoneWorx, in association with SABC3 and the Hegebe Trust.

Today I am addressing you in my capacity as the Chairperson of Champions of the Environment Foundation (www.championsenvironmentfoundation.com), which has been coordinating this project to be launched today.

The Champions of the Environment Foundation is an autonomous, apolitical group formed to meet the urgent need for a coordinated campaign to heighten national awareness of environmental conservation issues and best practices benefiting the whole community and future generations.

The origins of the Foundation can be traced back to the 1st Advocacy Session that was held on 2nd December 2007 in Johannesburg - with a cross section of more than sixty major stakeholders who form, influence and implement environmental policy, including the Department of Environment and Tourism. The outcome of the 2-day agenda was a unanimous vote that there was a need for a separate, autonomous and apolitical body to drive such a foundation.

The Mission of the Champions of the Environment Foundation is to:

"Act as a catalyst in promoting and communicating environmental achievements that enrich community life via positive management of all aspects of the environment and community."

Today's event is an important milestone for the region and its people because it marks the day when the area can begin the process of restoring its natural flora and fauna.

I still remember as if was yesterday when I was a herd-boy in this area. Back then discipline was the order of the day, the grazing and mealie-fields were fenced off - trees and fruit trees were abundant.

Little did I know that I was later going to be appointed as Deputy Minister of Environment in 1994, wherein I championed the current environmental legislation which aims to improve the quality of the environment for all South Africans.

Yes we recognize that due to the many decades of poverty in the area, the local community was forced to cut down the beautiful indigenous trees for firewood, fuel and to build housing and kraals. The result of these actions was the destruction of the forests, with a consequent decline in birds and animal life.

In the process there has been major soil erosion, poor water management and no natural areas for children and families to walk and play in.

The stark reality of this gradual degradation was highlighted when Madiba visited his birthplace in Qunu after his release from prison. Following his usual early morning walk at the time he asked me:

"Bantu, what happened to the birds that used to sing beautifully in the early hours in these areas?"

I told Madiba that due to the high levels of poverty people felled the trees for survival, hence the natural insects and birdlife had migrated.

After the establishment of the Champions of the Environment Foundation, I met with Adam Simcock, a CarbonWorx shareholder, and briefed him on our vision for the Foundation. He related to me examples of how European countries cooperate with the private sector to improve the quality of the environment. Afterwards he called me to propose to introduce CarbonWorx to work with communities in South Africa.

When I met CarbonWorx I was very encouraged by their proposition and business plan which involved the restoration of local eco systems with the objective of not only uplifting the local community, but also creating a business model that would encourage individuals and corporate to afforest areas such as the Eastern Cape. This initiative was also endorsed by the Board of the Champions of the Environment Foundation. Thus CarbonWorx was later introduced to the Hegebe Cultural Development Trust by Prince Fikile Holomisa.

The Foundation was also very excited by the fact that CarbonWorx had formed a relationship with SABC3 for the purposes of obtaining above-the-line exposure for projects of this nature and also to use that platform to educate people about the importance of managing the impacts of climate change.

This project will also assist in creating much needed employment and upliftment on a socio-economic level. This isn't just about planting trees; we should all strive to improve the household food security of the community thereby reducing the levels of poverty.

We thank the executive of FoneWorx, CarbonWorx and the Hegebe Cultural Development Trust for the confidence they had in the Foundation to assist in the realization of this project. In the same vein I wish to thank the Department of Environmental Affairs for opening the doors when we facilitated for FoneWorx and the Hegebe Cultural Development Trust to interact with them.

Today we will also be distributing hundreds of colour posters requesting the local population to encourage and protect our initiatives so that they too can leave a legacy.

We believe that when sufficient trees have been planted this will assist in improving the rainfall in the area, which will benefit farming and grazing.

I believe that this project will not only enable us to answer Madiba's concern about the state of our environment. In the process we can also uplift the local community and schools and assist in the country's overall objective of mitigating climate change and reducing levels of carbon dioxide.

Lastly, to those charged with running this project, we appeal to you to be on your guard with regards to financial management as public and private funds will be involved, as you will shortly hear from the Honourable Minister and CarbonWorx officials. It is a sad fact that projects of this nature are often targeted by unscrupulous fraudsters. However, the close cooperation between the Department of Environmental Affairs, FoneWorx and the Hegebe Cultural Development Trust should minimize the possibility of wrongdoing.

Most importantly you, the community, must actively participate through your structure in making this project a success. This project needs to be nurtured like you would care for your own children, so that it may grow into something that will benefit the whole community. This project should serve as a catalyst to be emulated by other villages in the province. Given the topography of the Hegebe villages, and funds permitting, we could easily in some parts, like KwaPhahla, eMahlungulu and eMatyeni, look at the potential for goat-farming which would create business and job opportunities.

Allow me to take advantage of the Honourable Minister's presence here today, these villages are also in desperate need of water. We would like the Department to address this issue.

I thank you.