President Ramaphosa launches nationwide Good Green Deeds Campaign

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially launched the Good Green Deeds campaign in Buffalo City, Eastern Cape. Good Green Deeds is a nationwide initiative to encourage South Africans to take responsibility for keeping the environment clean.
 
President Ramaphosa also visited a black woman-owned recycling enterprise AfriWaste, and took part in a clean-up at a taxi rank in Mdantsane.
 
Prior to the Good Green Deeds launch, the President led the launch of the Operation Phakisa on Chemicals and Waste, which has a number of detailed action plans that need to deliver results by 2023.
 
They include increasing the total contribution of the waste economy from R24.3 billion to R35.8 billion and creating 127,000 new direct and indirect jobs.
 
The plans also include providing support to 4,300 SMMEs with 70% targeted at youth and at least 30% targeted at women; and ultimately seeing more than 20 million tonnes of waste diverted from landfill.
 
President Ramaphosa emphasized that the waste sector had the potential to make a significant contribution towards economic growth and job creation, particularly at a time when the country had embarked upon a path of economic revitalization and renewal.
 
A number of companies made pledges at the event in support of green economy initiatives. Amongst the pledges received was an investment of R227m over the next three years by Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa and Coca Cola Peninsula Beverages to stimulate recycling industries; and R27m by global electronics giant Samsung towards e-waste management initiatives.
 
President Ramaphosa lauded efforts by the private sector as well as the international donor community to aid in South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, inclusive and climate change resilient future.
 
Calling on citizens, business, industry, labour and civil society to work towards a common goal, President Ramaphosa called on all South Africans to perform just one Good Green Deed a day such as recycling waste, or conducting clean-up activities.
 
President Ramaphosa called on young people in particular to take the lead in being part of ward-based environmental education and awareness raising.
 
Describing a clean environment as ‘an important source of national pride’, the President said: “let us take ownership of this country that is South Africa, and of this planet that is our only home by keeping South Africa clean.”
 

Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria