Gauteng MEC For Environment Ewan Botha conducted three visits to G20andBeyond Service Delivery. Picture Credits: supplied
By Thulane Madalane
Johanessburg – Gauteng MEC for Environment, Ewan Botha, undertook three critical site visits on Wednesday, demonstrating the Department of Environment’s ongoing commitment to G20AndBeyond, an initiative prioritizing people-centred service delivery and environmental interventions across the province.
The initial visits to Nasrec and Kliptown reinforced the sustainability of clean-up programmes initiated around the G20 Summit. MEC Botha emphasized that these initiatives remain community-driven and are not merely event-focused.
“We have never taken our eyes off the people of Gauteng. We were called and elected to serve them, and nothing we do must exist outside of their benefit,” said MEC Botha.
At Nasrec, the MEC engaged with EPWP beneficiaries who have continued their efforts beyond the G20 Summit, aided by an extension of contracts to maintain momentum. Botha also inspected a site previously identified as a major illegal dumping hotspot during the G20 preparatory work and was pleased to report that the area, once plagued by unmanaged waste, is now clean and well-maintained, showcasing the positive impact of continuous oversight and community partnerships.
In Kliptown, the MEC and Johannesburg city leaders interacted with residents, community groups, and EPWP teams. A local organisation, the Kliptown Skills Development Hub, which had earlier volunteered in neighbourhood cleaning, has been formally integrated into the EPWP programme, securing sustainable support. MEC Botha also addressed resident concerns, particularly emphasising inclusivity in recruitment to ensure all community groups are reflected and represented in departmental programmes.
The third visit took MEC Botha to Urban Surfer, led by Sifiso Gumbi, a partner in waste recycling and upcycling initiatives. This visit highlighted how grassroots innovation, community participation, and industry collaboration can convert waste into economic opportunities.
This engagement aligns with the Department’s strategic work to formalize the recycling and waste economy, facilitating access to support, training, and market opportunities for community groups, cooperatives, and small operators. The Department also showcased the Industrial Symbiosis Programme that strengthens cross-industry collaboration by linking waste generators with processors to create new value chains and reduce landfill dependency.
“Formalizing this industry is essential. We must give structure, support and opportunity to the people already doing the work. Partnerships like these allow us to grow the circular economy in a way that benefits communities directly,” Botha noted.
Throughout these engagements, MEC Botha reiterated the Department’s unwavering dedication to delivering quality services, restoring environmental health, and generating economic pathways within the green sector.
This commitment includes intensifying compliance and enforcement operations across Gauteng aimed at “cleaning out the rot,” closing non-compliant waste practices, and safeguarding the integrity of the environmental and waste management system.
“We cannot build a cleaner, fairer Gauteng on a foundation of non-compliance. The work we are building toward requires strong enforcement, honest partnerships, and unwavering service delivery,” MEC Botha affirmed.
The MEC further assured continued unannounced oversight visits across the province to ensure programmes are implemented with integrity, transparency, and provide tangible benefits to communities.
