The Umzimvubu Local Municipality in the Alfred Nzo District is the Eastern Cape's 2022 Green Municipalities Award winner. The award, held in collaboration between the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) and Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) recognises the top local municipalities in each of the six districts. Other sterling performances were also awarded. Senqu (Joe Gqabi District) and Ndlambe (Sarah Baartman District) local municipalities received the first runner-up and second runner-up accolades. The awards acknowledge best practices implemented by local municipalities and encourage best performances in environmental protection. It translates into measuring 14 indicators such as waste and water management, energy efficiency and conservation, landscaping, tree planting and beautification, public participation, and community empowerment. The award process also includes physical inspections by DEDEAT officials of the city centres, commercial areas, townships, public facilities, waste disposal facilities, leisure and tourism attractions, and waste minimisation programmes. For the first time, all districts were represented in the 2022 awards process that included other district winners: Emalahleni, Port St Johns and Mbhashe local municipalities. “Indeed, today we say ‘thank you’ to those who have made an effort to improve the environment. Their efforts undeniably prove that they embraced the Good Green Deeds Campaign with vigour and enthusiasm.” “One of the key areas that the government has identified as requiring our intervention is building a healthy nation. The attainment of that objective is our collective responsibility, especially with the municipalities at the coalface of service delivery, where government interacts with its people,” says MEC Mvoko. “Our congratulations go to every winning council, and especially to the residents of these areas …
Mvoko hails awards initiative recognising local talent among EC businesses
Speaking during the Eastern Cape Chamber of Business (ECCOB) annual business awards and fundraising event in Mthatha, MEC for Eastern Cape Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), Mlungisi Mvoko congratulated the ECCOB for instituting the annual awards in recognition of good performance among EC businesses. “We congratulate ECCOB and support this initiative, it is our view that this can only improve business performance and put the province on a higher pedestal. That this initiative is peer-driven, independent of government is even more encouraging” says MEC Mvoko. The MEC Mvoko further applauded business for the critical role it has played during the difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic and continues to play to keep the economy afloat. “It is through the role that business plays in the economy that we still have somewhat a functioning economy. The government recognises that on its own it cannot overcome the challenges of unemployment and poverty but should take a leading role in providing a conducive environment for the economy to thrive and create jobs” submits Mvoko. ECCOB says the awards recognise men and women who continue to make the Eastern Cape proud, people who against all odds have emerged from all angles to create a better world for many poor South Africans. The Fourth Annual Eastern Cape Business awards and fundraising dinner took place in Mthatha at Savoy Hotel and Conference Centre on 02 December 2022. With the event theme being “Paying service providers within 30 days”, the speakers agree that part of providing adequate support to business include paying them on time. When government fails in its obligation, business cash flows get affected and this leads to the closure of many businesses. Addressing the subject, MEC says Province pays within the period of 12 days barring two departments. He adds that the Treasury, Office of the Premier, and EC Department of Health are working on a plan to improve efficiencies …
Track Your Press Release HERE:
Nyandeni puts its hand up for green, blue initiatives to stimulate the economy
A recycling project in Nyandeni Local Municipality kicked off provincial marine day celebrations when it received R1 million in funding from the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT). The project is part of a series of initiatives underway on the Wild Coast to stimulate economic development and sustainable custodianship of the area’s assets which include 250km of unspoiled coastline and is home to one of South Africa's three biodiversity hotspots. The Marine Day event highlights the importance of the ocean economy and environment to the area, which sits in the heart of the Wild Coast, bordered in the north by Mhlontlo, in the south by the Indian Ocean, in the east by Port St Johns, and in the west by King Sabata Dalindyebo. With its sensitive coastal belt and marine reserves, Nyadeni Local Municipality was identified by the national and provincial government as a coastal smart area in 2019. Complementing this development, the Wild Coast development initiatives include developing five protected areas - Mkambati, Silaka, Hluleka, Dwesa and Nduli/Lutchaba - as a tourism destination development. As such, R42,9 million has been injected to nature reserves in the province from the provincial economic stimulus fund to upgrade their infrastructure to boost tourism and this includes Silaka, Hluleka, Mkambati, and Dwesa. The agency is also working with the national Department of Tourism to bring about a coastal and marine tourism six-day hiking trail that will include Nyandeni, Mngazana, Mpande, and Hluleka Mngcibe in the Nyandeni municipal area. The project also aims to stimulate a circular waste economy and contribute to the fight against marine plastic pollution. The area is also home to another exciting waste project focused on the marine economy. Recently, the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the environment provided specialised waste collection vehicles to several municipalities to …
Track Your Press Release HERE:
Landmark Energy Collaboration Delivers First-Class Electricity To Remote Eastern Cape Community
A first-of-its-kind renewable energy project by the Eastern Cape Province and State of Lower Saxony, which has helped to fast-track the electrification of an Upper Blinkwater community, has been handed to the mini-grid’s owner and operator, the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality (RMLM). The Upper Blinkwater’s Mthocwa community is the recipient of 57 electrical connections that receive high-quality electricity and make up the project's operational phase. A further expansion phase that allows for additional connections is underway. German partner to the project Lower Saxony Minister President Stephan Weil explains the Upper Blinkwater Mini-Grid is a breakthrough energy project. It is set to bring development opportunities to a remote village forward by a decade. While high-quality electricity provision is an inextricable part of the mini-grid project, the community has seen significant human development. MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mlungisi Mvoko explains further: “The mini-grid, through a study conducted by the University of Fort Hare (UFH), one of the project’s academic partners, shows mini-grids can be a catalyst for other kinds of local livelihood development.” The study shows how the mini-grid has improved the community's lives by creating jobs and businesses, and postgraduate students were empowered with research skills and sharing knowledge. Four doctoral, four master’s and four honours degrees are a result of the mini-grid”. The mini-grid also showed increased use of appliances by community members and improved family engagement because electricity has reduced the workload of women who can now watch television with their families. It has allowed for increased study hours for children and increased use of appliances. “A significant finding of the study is that the mini-grid has increased the community's average income by 32%, with women showing a greater increase (40%) in income,” Mvoko. The mini-grid …
Track Your Press Release HERE:
Nissan bakkie and cycad impounded, arresting four suspects in the process
A Nissan bakkie and 8 large endangered cycads of the Encephalartos princeps species were impounded in Nqamakwe. During the operation, four suspects were charged and detained in the early hours of Sunday morning, 31 July 2022. The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT)’s environmental management investigators were notified on Saturday night by members of the Nqamakwe community that they required assistance in apprehending cycad poachers operating in their forests. They together with Nqamakwe South African Police Services (SAPS) responded immediately by advancing to the forest where they met community members and arrested the four alleged cycad smugglers. DEDEAT team was coming from East London. It is believed that the plants were destined for the Gauteng market. However, the investigations are ongoing as the Department also believes there are more people involved in the syndicate. DEDEAT is encouraged because the Nqamakwe community responded to this crime and took action despite the poaching occurring on the weekend and during cold weather. The Department thanks and commends them for this. The poaching of cycads from the province has been quiet for several years since the conviction of more than 40 cycad poachers that kept them behind bars for prison sentences ranging from 7 to 11 years. Some have recently been released from jail. There is another cycad case on the roll in the Mthatha NPA Office. Cycads are ancient plants dating back to the era of dinosaurs and are part of the Eastern Cape's heritage. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Track Your Press Release HERE:
DEDEAT gets new Amathole regional director
Vuyelwa Mantyi joined the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) in July 2022 as Regional Director for the Amathole Region. She has had a rich career spanning over 20 years in the private and public sectors in the areas of digital strategy development and execution, programme management, public policy development and monitoring and evaluation. Before joining the Department, she was responsible for integrated strategy, planning and monitoring and evaluation supporting the economic development cluster. Notable projects include leading the development of the Provincial Medium Term Strategic Framework for the sixth term of government and the first provincial mandate paper and prioritisation framework. Vuyelwa is no stranger to the DEDEAT family, having been the head of strategy and risk management at the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, support to the chief operating officer at DEDEAT and deputy director at the DEDEAT 2010 Projects Unit. She served on the European Union and Presidency’s Programme to Support Pro-Poor Policy Development, which assists policy-makers in systematically harnessing the best available evidence to inform the policy-making process through research and partnerships with academia, think tanks and the public sector. Currently, she serves as the Eastern Cape representative on the Statistics Council of South Africa where she is also a member of the Strategy Committee. One of her favourite leadership quotes is: “No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team.” Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Track Your Press Release HERE:
R28M Worth Somerset East Industrial Park Infrastructure Services Completed
The construction of the bulk civil and electrical infrastructure services in the Eastern Cape’s Somerset East industrial park is now complete. Today, the R28m worth industrial park’s infrastructure services were officially handed to the MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), Mr Mlungisi Mvoko. Mvoko says the Department’s three-year funding commitment, made possible through the R1,1 billion Provincial Economic Stimulus Fund that focuses on priority sectors, follows several investments made by other government departments and entities in this park. The funding has been used to develop the bulk services that include roads, stormwater, ducting, electrical, water, sewer reticulation and substation and fencing (3km). The event comes days after an announcement by the Department that the revitalisation of the province’s six state-owned industrial parks is one of three high impact programmes for the 2022/23 financial year. The other two prioritised high impact programmes are township and rural economy, and climate change support to municipalities. Mvoko explains that the state-owned industrial parks are critical for economic development, job creation and serve as hubs of economic activities across the Eastern Cape. “These parks will play a pivotal role in integrating various regions in the economic mainstream. They need to be upgraded with world-class infrastructure and services to retain and attract current and future industrial investors in the province,” he says. The milestone handover follows a nine-year wait from when the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Cacadu Development Agency to develop the aerodrome precinct into a multi-purpose industrial park. Professionals involved in the development of the bulk infrastructure at the Somerset East Park were BVI Engineers and Ikhona Techni. This project phase created about 140 jobs and R5.4 million in opportunities for 27 …
Track Your Press Release HERE:
South African travellers love travelling to the Eastern Cape
According to the inaugural Eastern Cape Annual Tourism Barometer 2015, South African travellers took 3.2 million trips to the Eastern Cape, spending an estimated R3 billion in total direct value in 2014 says the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT). This number was up by 1.2 million trips in comparison to 2013 and means that domestic tourism is on the rise in the Eastern Cape. MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Sakhumzi Somyo explains that “the Eastern Cape now boasts a 1.6 fold increase in domestic tourism to the province or some 1.2 million more tourists.” The barometer, released today, reports that the Eastern Cape stands in 6th position in terms of domestic travel and in 8th position in terms of international travel. According to the barometer based on statistics drawn from a variety of sources, the Eastern Cape accounted for 4.4% of South Africa’s 9 549 236 international tourist arrivals in 2014. Gauteng took the lion’s share, accounting for 49.4% of international arrivals but this is mostly driven by foreign tourists landing in OR Tambo Airport. All other provinces - the Western Cape (18.6%), Mpumalanga (14.1%), Limpopo (13.0%), KwaZulu-Natal (11.8%), Free State (7.3%) and North West (6.6%) - had greater number of tourist arrivals. Somyo explains that the barometer will help the province reflect on “these weaker areas of our performance such as access for foreign travellers.” The 304 888 foreign tourists who visited the Eastern Cape spent an estimated R2.4 billion, about R500 million more than in 2013, and stayed on average 9.5 days. This means that foreign tourists who made the effort to get to the Eastern Cape, put down there roots rather than passing by. Most of the arrivals came from Germany (15.4%), followed by the United Kingdom (14.7%) and United States of America (12.7%). In terms of bednights sold in the Eastern Cape in 2014, international …