August 30, 2011

Overcrowding, high levels of unemployment and poverty are hampering attempts to create a clean environment in most townships.  While much education is still needed to motivate residents into caring for their living spaces, inroads are being made in providing work opportunities in sourcing, sorting and recycling waste.

Dr Popo Molefe, former premier of North West Province and currently deputy chairman of waste management company Tedcor, says that it is understandable that those who live under the crushing burden of poverty tend not to view the environment as a priority.  In townships where employment is almost nonexistent, people soon become demoralised and the dignity of work gets lost in the battle to survive.

 “As a country, we have a duty to instill a sense of ecological responsibility in our people.  A strategic element of the green economy lies in keeping the environment clean through awareness and the introduction of professional and efficient waste-management programmes. Job creation in waste management, therefore, is pivotal to sustainability,” he says.

To date, much has been done. A core of highly trained workers and community contractors are already making a significant contribution to delivery of refuse on behalf of municipalities, provincial government and the national government.  As a result, job opportunities, skills development and empowerment have been achieved in a number of townships.

 Global awareness of greening the planet is leading the way. Inevitably this sentiment has started filtering down to the communities in South Africa.  Already hundreds of entrepreneur contractors from historically disadvantaged backgrounds have acquired trucks and started their own small waste management businesses through the training and support of Tedcor.  Communities living in areas where the company has been involved have seen the benefits of a cleaner living space.

 “During my regular visits to townships in Tembisa and Katlehong and in the North West, I have witnessed the enthusiasm from young men and women, who are now able to support their families.  In addition, it is rewarding to see the confidence and pride shown by these entrepreneurs who have been able to hire and train labourers to collect, sort and recycle waste ready for collection,”  says Molefe.

Tedcor now has hundreds of waste-management community contractors operating throughout the country. On average, each contractor employs  14 people and services 6000 to 7000 households.  Many of these contractors have completed their tender contracts and have gone on to set up their own SMEs.

“We are meeting the challenges of the environment. Research has shown that five million households have no refuse removal service at all.  This offers enormous opportunities for partnerships between the private sector and government to kick-start job-creation in the poorer areas,” he says.