Working on Fire's Work Recognised at UN Summit
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WOFIRESaving Lives Protecting the Environment NEWS Restoring Dignity VOLUME 8 EDITION 6 SEPTEMBER 2019 Working on Fire Working on Fire - WOF TV News Channel @wo_fire Minister join Working Working on Fire’s work on Fire in recognised at UN Summit clean-up Prolonged drought caused by continued global warming is increasing in Southern Africa, potentially impacting water security and causing heatwaves. These are some of the findings in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement on South Africa’s position on Climate Change which was handed to the United Nations Secretary General at the Climate Change Conference, Global Climate Action in New York on 23 September 2019. He said extensive research was being done in South Africa to quantify the likelihood of major climate change impacts occurring in the next few decades. “Using our own domestic resources, we have already implemented measures to help us cope with extreme During the Port St Johns clean-up, Minister Creecy, MEC Mlungisi Mvoko, weather. These include the Working for Water programme, the firefighters and other stakeholders aimed Working on Fire programme and the restoration of wetlands,” to inspire locals to take ownership of their he said. community and help keep it clean. WOF teams in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu- Natal have been working in the drought relief projects which focus The Minister of Environment, Forestry and on clearing alien invasive plants which affect our water supply. Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, joined more These provinces were the hardest hit by the current drought. than 30 firefighters from the Mkhambathi and Nqadu Working on Fire teams for the Good Green Deeds clean-up campaign in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape. MEC Mlungisi Mvoko and Working for Water, WOF VAI plays its part in building Community Work Programme and SANParks staff also participated in the clean-up, which started at the Port St new facilities for EC learners Johns taxi rank and concluded at the Port St Johns beach. Minister Creecy On 17 September 2019, the Minister was happy to see the beneficiaries of of Environment, Forestry and the Expanded Public Works Programmes Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, officially coming together for such a good cause opened new ablution facilities at and thanked them for their service and Mqikela Secondary School in ensuring that public spaces were clean. Lusikisiki. “We have done clean-up campaigns before, but we are particularly happy to have been part of this clean-up cam- paign as we got to meet our Minister and also work with participants from other programmes,” said a firefighter Barbara Creecy Maggie Sotyu from Mkhambathi. The Good Green Deeds initiative formed part of the Presidential visit to OR Tambo District. WOF firefighter assists as the Minister and officials from the provincial Department of Education officially open the ablution facilities Grabeth Nduna, Construction Manager for VAI, presents the new facilities to the Minister at school and too many of these facilities The principal of Mqikela Second- are below standard. ary School thanked the Department According to Minister Creecy, the Working on Fire became involved and expressed her appreciation project was initiated after education through its Value-Added Industries of the other parties involved in authorities identified a dire need for (VAI) and was tasked with rolling out donating and building the toilets. the upgrading of ablution facilities the Department of Education’s project The learners were on hand to add The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, along with a at schools. Learners need hygienic to construct new ablution facilities at their thanks to those involved with number of stakeholders involved in the facilities to stay healthy and perform identified schools. a huge round of applause. Good Green Deeds clean-up campaign An Expanded Public Works Programme Implemented by the Department of Environmental Affairs: WORKING ON FIRE Page 01 KwaZulu-Natal Working on Fire, the Department of Environmental Affairs, International Coastal Clean-Up Day Forestry and Fisheries, eThekwini Mu- nicipality, the Department of Economic more environmentally conscious and to Development, Tourism & Environmental promote behavioural change towards Affairs, Transnet, the Office of the ending littering and illegal dumping. KwaZulu-Natal Premier, the Depart- KZN Fire Awareness Training Officer, ment of Cooperative Governance and Bongumusa Nyathi says, “We had a week- Traditional Affairs and the Source to long build-up campaign which included Sea project joined coastal countries joining various clean-up campaigns at across the world to commemorate Kwandengezi and at Umgeni River in the International Coastal Clean-up Day Albert Falls area.” Nyathi says, “Since (ICCD) by partnering with communi- launching the WOF Girl and Boy Scouts, ties in and around Durban to clean it was imperative that they join us in the the beaches and areas leading to the International Coastal Clean-Up which ocean. took place at Isipingo Beach. It was a ICCD brings together communities great opportunity to encourage them with the common goals of collecting to see the importance of the work their and documenting marine litter along parents do and why it is so vital to take WOF firefighters and scouts coastlines. The activities in Durban care of the environment they live in as it cleaning at Isipingo Beach formed part of the government’s Good is the only one we have.” Green Deeds Programme launched The Source to Sea initiative is a by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier new strategy being implemented in including plastic pollution, which Nompilo Zondi, KwaZulu-Natal this year. Good Green Deeds seeks to KwaZulu-Natal to investigate, com- threatens both freshwater and marine Provincial Communication Officer mobilise South Africans to become bat and ultimately eradicate pollution, ecosystems. WOF Care Package fundraiser Working on Fire in KwaZulu-Natal hosted a WOF Care Package Fundraiser on 20 September at the Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve. “This event was not only a fundraising method for the WOF Care Packages but was a great net- working opportunity for internal and external officials and to also officially launch the WOF Boy and Girl Scouts WOF Scouts singing together with the KZN firefighters and management which were implemented earlier this year,” says KZN Social Development Practitioner, Hloniphile Ndlovu. Ndlovu says, “We also incorpo- Ndlovu says, “Overall, the day was a It was a fun-packed day for rated the growing gender-based violence success. Deputy Mayor Buthelezi spoke stakeholders to witness the talent that that the country has witnessed over the highly of the work the uMngeni and WOF had on display. The programme past few months. The scouts handed Karkloof Teams were doing in her mu- took the opportunity to briefly show- out roses to females in the audience to nicipality. “We were extremely happy with case some of WOF’s achievements remind them of their value in the the outcome of the day. Stakeholders in this financial year and introduce community, and to raise awareness to also willingly pledged towards the care various activities or initiatives to those always protect women and children from package. We will continue to fundraise present. abuse.” for our participants’ children, as it is not The day commenced with In the spirit of Heritage Month, only the parents’ responsibility to groom the uMngeni Team and the scouts the Shongweni Team beautifully dem- a child but it is also our responsibility as welcoming the uMngeni Deputy onstrated Zulu culture in music and a community.” Mayor, Councillor Buthelezi, with a dance. The WOF Scouts programme The Mayor of uMngeni and senior guard of honour as she entered the was officially launched with the wonder- Nompilo Zondi, KwaZulu-Natal management walk past the guard of Provincial Communication Officer honour venue. ful heritage-themed dancing. Ithafa Secondary Schools. The schools’ nabbed second place and Ithafa Mpumalanga hosts its best Grade 8 and 9 debaters were pitted Secondary rounded off the top against each other on three topics – “How three. wildfires fuel climate change”, “How Working on Fire annually hosts annual school debate communities are at risk of wildfire and the school debating competition with should take action to alleviate that risk the aim of educating the youth about Working on Fire in Mpumalanga held its in their homes” and “How the cost of environmental issues and encouraging annual school debating competition at wildfire to the economy and environment them to become involved in protecting the Netherland Park Secondary School can be mitigated through integrated fire the environment. in Ermelo in the Gert Sibande District management services”. WOF teams across the province on Friday, 30 August. Reggie Masuku Secondary’s continually visit schools and the The Fire Awareness team worked performance stood head and communities to educate residents with the Department of Education school shoulders above the rest, and they about fire risks and prevention. Reggie Masuku Secondary School district to host five local schools, namely walked away with the number one Amanda Mthembu, Mpumalanga learners and teachers celebrate after Camden Combined School and Nether- spot and earned themselves a trophy Provincial Communication Officer winning the school debate in Ermelo land Park, Reggie Masuku, Cebisa and and certificates. Camden Combined Page 02 WORKING ON FIRE: An Expanded Public Works Programme implemented by the Department of Environmental