Since then, South Africa has passed some of the most progressive legislation in the world and, in tribute to the groundbreaking work done by Valli Moosa, the former Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, he was appointed President of the World Conservation Union from 2004 to 2008.
On his nomination, he said, and I quote:
"The world is agreed that conservation should be more strongly connected with the needs of the poor. This formula must enable protection of biodiversity in a manner which responds to people's needs and therefore mainstream conservation and environmental concerns."
Many simply remember Valli Moosa's role by the almost miraculous disappearance of the plastic bags that used to hang from every fence, blow into trees, or lie like dead animals in ditches and gutters. Indeed, many towns were positively festooned with plastic bags flapping gaily in the wind.
There can be no doubt that the mood of people who feel depressed and degraded is reflected in the environment in which they live. People who have no respect for themselves lack respect for their surroundings. People who are neglected or abandoned by those they choose to represent them will reflect that sense of neglect and abandonment in their neighbourhoods and surroundings.
It is also true that people who receive few or irregular cleansing services have traditionally been the poorest amongst us, those with the least energy and time to put into what must seem a entirely hopeless task of cleaning a neglected environment.
And yet, with the right community spirit and enthusiasm, with the collective will, any municipality in any town or village can put its surroundings to rights. And some indeed have, and are here today, as entrants in the competition originally set up by Minister Moosa and now presided over by Minister van Schalkwyk, and at the provincial level by Minister Essop.
As you will hear/ have heard, government at all spheres is engaged in providing the kinds of services any community needs if it is to build a spirit of pride in its environment. Practically, this means equitable service delivery, an integrated waste management plan and sustainable implementation programme, community awareness and education, and the regionalisation of landfill sites.
Often, because of the legacy of neglect, this means building from the bottom up. It means working hard to eliminating the inequity between areas through the supply of the appropriate services. And it means, above all, active and enthusiastic leadership by the local government authority.
As government, we have a responsibility to lead from the top.
I would like to think about what a clean and green town really means – means to the people who live in it.
First, a clean and green town will improve the health of its people. Clean water and proper waste management remove many of the risks people run where these services are not available.
Second, a clean and green town will improve the mood of its people. They will feel better so they will enjoy life more. They will be able to walk along clean roads and streets without disgust. Their children will play on the grass or under the trees.
Third, a clean and green town will improve the safety of its people. Waste removal to properly guarded and attended landfill sites will reduce the dangers children face when playing in dumps. People walking in the streets for pleasure will make the environment less attractive for those would-be kings of our suburbs, the gangsters.
Fourth, a clean and green town will build spirit and enthusiasm and pride. If there are trees that provide shelter, people will walk under them. If there are gaily painted walls, people will admire them. If there are parks, children will play in them. If there are places to gather, people will come there to share their hopes and fears.
And if the people in your municipality have a real sense of community you will be on your way to creating a home for all the people of your town – a warm and friendly place.
My message tonight is very simple. I have a vision of a Western Cape that will become a Home for All … a place where we can all live in equity, dignity, pride and self-respect. And our vision must depend on the work we do in our communities. We cannot have a Home for All in which some of our family members live in squalor and poverty, while others live in opulence. We cannot have a Home for All if women are treated like second-class citizens, and if people with disabilities are afraid or unable to venture out. We cannot have a Home for All if our children go without shoes, schooling and proper nutrition and health care.
I would like to congratulate those towns that have entered for this year’s competition and wish them the best of luck.
And for next year … let us see how many more towns and neighbourhoods we can involve in this competition.
