Earlier this week, Netwerk24 reported that the metro intends to visit the country which is known for being one of the cleanest in Africa to learn exactly how it does this and how these practices can be implemented in the metro’s six towns.

Netwerk24 also reported that opposition leaders in the metro slammed the trip, stating that there are many places in South Africa that the metro’s delegation can take to in order to learn how to keep the city and towns surrounding it clean. AfriForum’s Monique Taute says in the letter the organisation sent to Mlamleli, they need clarity on the costs, the project plan, as well as the number of people that will be taken on the trip.

Taute says should Mlamleli not have responded to their letter by the stated date, AfriForum will put in a Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000 (PAIA) application. PAIA is South Africa's access to information law and it enables people to gain access to information held by both public and private bodies.

According to Taute, who heads AfriForum’s anti-corruption unit, it is preposterous that the Provincial Working Committee wants to undertake such a visit without any sufficient planning or cost considerations. “The Rwandese model is quite easy to understand and does not justify a whole delegation to visit the country. The Rwandese government launched an initiative according to which all citizens between the ages of 18 and 65 must clean their environments every last Saturday of the month. It is not a voluntary project and citizens who do not participate in the action are heavily fined. The leaders of the country take part in the action, however, encourage the citizenry to also participate,” she says. She further adds that Mlamleli should rather be using funds for the trip towards intensifying efforts to keep the metro clean by ensuring that all waste removal and cleaning services rendered are properly managed. Questions have been sent to the metro’s spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, on the matter.

OFM News