June 7, 2004
By Lebofsa Masha
FOLLOWING a week which included City Power workshops in Alexandra, water roadshows and the launch of an educational environmental programme by City Parks, the City of Johannesburg's first State of the Environment report was well received by about 200 people gathered in the reception room of the mayor's parlour in the Metro Centre on Friday 4 June.
The launch of the City's report purposefully coincided with World Environment Day and the national theme linked to World Environment Day - A Decade of Sustainability, Our Environment, Our Future - supported Johannesburg's vision of becoming a world-class African City, said Mally Mokoena, member of the mayoral committee responsible for development planning, transportation and environment.
Reading the report, executive mayor Amos Masondo said the City had completed an Environmental Management Framework, planning ways of providing the City's citizens with clean water and clean air, reducing land pollution and developing green open spaces.
Among the forces impacting on the City's environment were rapid urbanisation, the need to deliver basic social services such as housing, roads, health-care facilities, transportation for a growing population and unpolluted, sanitary water. Crime, HIV/Aids and high levels of pollution from fossil fuels, which resulted in lung diseases, were also major problems, Masondo said.
"In providing services, we recognise that water from our rivers will not run forever. We need clean air to breathe so we do not get sick. We also recognise that we need more green areas to enjoy nature," the mayor said.
Masondo highlighted the City's water supply was derived from just two major catchments - the Jukskei River that drains into the Crocodile River and the Klip River that flows into the Vaal. "The water we drink comes from the Vaal River, into which the Klip River drains. Hence we need to ensure that the water that flows from the city into the Vaal River is clean," he said.
City officials were also present at the launch of the report
Explaining that Joburg had an urban forest with over two million trees, which serve an important function of cleaning the air by absorbing harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, Masondo said: "The City will continue to develop more and bigger parks and conservation areas so that we can reach the international guideline of having 10 percent of our land under conservation."
Complementing Masondo's report, Mokoena addressed the urgent need to create clean energy sources.
"Approximately 20 percent of the City, particularly dense informal settlements and lower income townships, are experiencing severe air pollution due to the high use of fossil fuels, particularly low-grade coal for heating and cooking," she said.
Masondo added that the City was exploring the use of innovative technology to manage waste disposal in a small space of land.
The City had also published 'A Better House Booklet' which provides practical advice on how to improve existing dwellings and guidelines for placing new dwellings on site. Information on improving insulation, protection from damp, introducing ventilation into living and sleeping spaces, and improving the structural stability of houses was included, the mayor said.
Mokoena paid special attention to the school children present, who needed to have environmental values instilled from a young age.
The children were entertained by "Percy, the twin", who sang the theme song for Gauteng's cleaning and greening campaign, Bontle ke Botho and were invited to take part in the City Parks competition 'My dream park'.
In conclusion, Masondo stressed the importance of putting plans into action. "Having a policy does not help solve environmental problems - implementation does," he said.
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