Nelson Mandela Bay: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is placing litter bins in strategic areas in Gqeberha and Kariega to enhance the metro’s efforts to implement sustainable waste management solutions. The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Health, Thsonono Buyeye, said the roll out could not have come at a better time, as the metro is expecting to see more residents outdoors and tourists flock to the “Friendly City” over the summer season. Buyeye said the project was an addition to the metro’s ongoing waste management and beautification drive, which is yielding positive results in areas including Korsten, Cape Road and the airport area. Buyeye said the metro is not only embarking on making sure that the city is clean just because the summer season is approaching, but it is the standard that they want to keep.

According to South African Government News Agency, Buyeye stated, “Bins play a major role in making sure that people do not litter. They must have an option of where to put their litter.
This is part of our fight against illegal dumping that we continue to see in our city, but we are making sure that we win this battle as a city because cleanliness brings other positive spinoffs, as we are starting to see tourists coming into our city.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness to attract more visitors, noting that central business districts (CBDs) in Gqeberha and Kariega, along with beachfront areas, will be prioritized due to the expected influx of residents and visitors.

Public Health Executive Director, Sizwe Mvunelwa, stressed the importance of cooperation from both residents and visitors in keeping the metro clean. “We just want cooperation from the residents and visitors for them to work with us so that we can keep our metro clean. The municipality will roll out the project in phases in an effort to reach all communities. We don’t want any littering. We are providing the necessary receptacles,” Mvunelwa said.

Meanwhile, the municipality reported ongoing water disruption
s in Motherwell due to challenges encountered during pipe welding on Monday. This follows a planned 24-hour water maintenance shutdown, which was scheduled for the Motherwell Reservoir on Tuesday. The municipality assured that teams have successfully installed two bulk water meters on the 600mm and 800mm pipelines and a new air valve. They aim to restore water supply by midday on Wednesday and will dispatch water trucks, with locations to be shared shortly. The municipality apologized for the inconvenience and reiterated that the work is part of the water demand management strategy to strengthen water resilience in the region.