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Today, we observed the World Nature Conservation Day. I used the day to pay tribute to non-governmental organizations and individuals who are involved in the protection and conservation of our environment.

I have offered to continue to work with industry stakeholders and leaders of society to mobilize every citizen to take responsibility for keeping their communities clean and to promote the 4Rs - that is Reduce, Reuse Recycling and Recovery.

In this regard, I wish to single out few co-operatives that are practically involved in 4Rs and have received funding from the department. These are the following:- 

1.    Mooi River Recycling - which operates recycling business in Mpofana Local Municipality;

2.    And Isivuno Primary Cooperative in eThekwini Municipality.  

With a full time staff compliment of 15 and 12 casual workers, Isivuno co-operative is converting shipping containers as part of recycling. This co-operative was established by a woman entrepreneur Ms Beverly Gumbi whose first business was to supply 15 converted containers to Hlabisa Local Municipality.

Currently renting premises owned by the SA National Defence Force, my office is in the processes of securing facilities for this co-operative as part of our interventions in the informal economy. 

The department granted Isivuno R2, 168 million to procure equipment and machinery for its business. They have used the money to buy 50 containers. 

To date, they are supplying a variety of customised units to clients ranging from tuck shops, government departments, municipalities, schools, general public and private companies such as Coca Cola and National Lottery. 

On the 30th July 2020, I will visit Isivuno Co-operative with senior officials from our entities such as Ithala and Moses Kotane Institute of Technology. We want to ensure the expansion of this business throughout the corners of the province as part of job creation.

Issued by The Department of Economic Development, Tourism And Environmental Affairs And Leader of The Government Business, Nomusa Dube-Ncube