Share

Women to gain from environmental jobs

(Shutterstock)
(Shutterstock)
Port Elizabeth - Women played an important role during the apartheid days in the management of the country’s natural resources, according to deputy minister of water and environmental affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi.

She led a dialogue about Women Empowerment with the female beneficiaries of the Working for Water programme in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday as part of celebrating Women’s Month.

The dialogue was convened under the theme: Working together towards women empowerment and gender equality.

“During the apartheid years and still today, due to the migrant system, while men went to work on the mines and in the cities, it was left mainly to women…to look after the crops and cattle in the rural areas,” she said.

The department of environmental affairs is planning to create the equivalent of more than 34 000 full time jobs during 2013/14 financial year through its environmental protection and infrastructure and natural resource management programmes.

At least 55% of these employment opportunities will be afforded to women and the youth.

The department will provide training to the beneficiaries adding up to a target of 184 000 person days.

Currently, the department runs environmental sector public works expanded programmes such as Working for Water, Working on Fire and Working for Wetlands.

The main objective of these programmes is to ensure efficient and sustainable management of South Africa’s natural resources.

These programmes play a crucial role in protection of the environment and creation of job opportunities particularly for women and persons with disability.

The departments of environment and water affairs have invested over R7.5bn on the Working for Water programme, which aims to control and contain invasive alien plants.

Since its inception in 1995, the programme has created the equivalent of more than 174 000 person years of employment and created employment opportunities for an average of 26 000 people per year, with 54% of them being  women.

The programme has treated more than 2 million hectares of invasive alien plants, thereby reducing risks of land degradation and desertification.

Furthermore, through this programme, the department plans to produce 19 000 school desks supporting other sister Departments in Government.

Mabudafhasi told the attendees that when it comes to improving the natural resources, government did not only promise, but has delivered.

“If it was not for this investment and the introduction of biological control, South Africa’s biodiversity, and to some extent food security, could have been under major threat,” she said.

Furthermore, the departments have invested more than R2.2bn in the Working on Fire programme.

The programme supports land users to contain more than 9 700 wild fires over an estimated area of more than 4.6 million hectares in order to secure life and livelihoods.

Most of the beneficiaries of this are women and person with disability as well.

In addition, the departments’ invested more than R560m in Working Wetlands programme for the restoration and protection of wetlands since its inception in 2005.

- Fin24
 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.90
+0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.86
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.39
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.31
+0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders