Pictured are (from left) Christa Venter (Kouga Environmental Management Manager), Timothy Jantjes (Kouga Executive Deputy Mayor), Deon Goosen (Dorp van Drome Elder), Loulita Vosloo (General Manager Dorp van Drome), Nomvula Machelesi (Community Services Director), Rochelle Ludick (Kouga Parks and Open Spaces Manager), Councillor Daniel Benson (Community Services Portfolio Councillor), and Nomvelo Siwela (Kouga Environmental Specialist).
KOUGA - Kouga Municipality is proud to announce its outstanding achievement of securing the third position in the highly coveted National Arbor City Awards 2023.
This prestigious accolade recognises municipalities that have demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication to the Ten Million Trees Programme and have successfully embraced greening initiatives within their communities.
As a testament to their hard work and dedication, the municipality has been awarded a generous prize of R150 000.
“This achievement could not have been possible without the invaluable support and partnership of the "Dorp van Drome", “Patensie Pronk” and other voluntary individuals and organisations,” said Kouga Deputy Executive Mayor, Timothy Jantjes.
“It is worth noting that the Dorp van Drome organisation previously played a significant role in the municipality's success by assisting Jeffreys Bay in winning the ‘Dorp van die Jaar’ title on the Kwêla platform in 2018.”
The NACA ceremony, organised by the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, was held on Friday, 01 September 2023, in Polokwane, Limpopo, and marked the launch of National Arbor Month.
Marco Engelbrecht and Nomvelo Siwela of Kouga Municipality, alongside representatives from Dorp van Drome, were honoured to receive certificates acknowledging their outstanding contributions to this vital cause.
Deon Goosen, an elder of the Dorp van Drome organisation, expressed his pleasure in collaborating with the municipality, saying, "It has been an absolute pleasure working with the municipality, who wholeheartedly support our projects to beautify and enhance the town of Jeffreys Bay. The municipality has dedicated four of their employees to assist with our special projects, with the mutual goal of maintaining gardens, trees, and public parks.”
According to Jantjes, this achievement is on par with the commitment of the municipality’s Keep Kouga Clean and Green campaign, which launched in 2019.
“This campaign aims to develop a comprehensive greening plan that not only showcases current and future greening locations within the municipality, but also raises awareness about the numerous benefits of greening programs,” he said.
“The greening initiatives also serve as a platform to highlight the indigenous tree species native to the region, fostering a deeper connection with our environment.
“The greening plan, which will be implemented over the next five years, has already seen the successful planting of more than 3 000 trees within the municipality.”
According to Jantjes, collaborative partnerships with local non-profit organisations and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and Community Works Program (CWP) are fundamental to the success of many projects within the municipality’s Community Services Department.
These partnerships not only contribute to Local Economic Development in the region, but also enhance the skill sets of program beneficiaries.
Jantjes expressed his delight at this achievement, stating, "We are immensely proud of this accomplishment. The municipality remains committed to the sustainable development and beautification of our region through greening initiatives.”
“This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team and our contributing partners."
The municipality extends its heartfelt gratitude to Patensie Pronk, JBay Surfers, Kromme Enviro Trust, Dorp van Drome, Woodlands Dairy, Gamtoos Irrigation Board and many others for their unwavering support and commitment to enhancing our environment. The prize money will be reinvested in further greening initiatives and community beautification projects.