23 Sep 2018

Local authorities’ efforts to keep the country clean are jeopardised by, among other things, illegal dumping of waste and lack of access to residential properties for waste collection.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Botlogile Tshireletso, said this at the clean-up the world commemoration day in Mahalapye recently.

Ms Tshireletso noted that the importance of a clean environment could not be overemphasised especially in the advent of the complex environmental challenges besieging the world.

She said the event, which was also used to launch national clean-up campaign strategies, provided government with an opportunity to encourage and empower communities to keep their environment clean.

“This is the platform where we reflect on the challenges which are obstacles to attainment of our environmental cleanliness vision,” she said. 

Despite the varied challenges, Ms Tshireletso said this year, the focus would be on two issues of plastic pollution and school health adding that plastic pollution had proven to be a challenge.

She said her ministry had partnered with the ministries of health and wellness and basic education to incorporate school cleanliness competitions.

“The initiative was triggered by the realisation that the strategy to improve environmental cleanliness, health and safety in schools may benefit us more when we target young children,” she said.

Ms Tshireletso also added that environmental pollution was one of the challenges facing the country. ENDS