Gauteng green army ready to clean the streets

The Gauteng Provincial Government, through the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, has officially launched 6,000 job opportunities in the waste management and food security programmes of the Department.

The Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) is in response to the waste management and food insecurity challenges in the province as well as unemployment.

The 6,000 posts were advertised in February 2023 and were open to unemployed South Africans, particularly those that reside in the 26 priority townships, informal settlements, and hostels across Gauteng.

When delivering his keynote address on Sunday at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto, Premier Panyaza Lesufi reiterated the government’s commitment to intensify efforts to keep Gauteng clean and green, while addressing the youth unemployment challenges in the province.

“I’m releasing this green army to provide support in establishing food gardens in different communities, assist schools to establish environmental projects, and take part in various cleaning campaigns across the province,” added Premier Lesufi.

“Despite being the smallest province in the country, Gauteng generates 35% of South Africa’s waste material. In the absence of strategies to manage waste, which include proper storage, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal, the total volumes of waste generated will increase in the future,” said the Premier.

The programme will be implemented over a 12-month period and is designed to provide temporary job opportunities that will generate income for the unemployed on a rotation basis.

This is to cater to as many unemployed as possible. The EPWP participants will be paid R2800 a month for the duration of the programme.