05 October 2022
MEC MANOPOLE LEADS A COASTAL CLEAN UP IN PORT NOLLOTH
The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development, and Land Reform, Ms Mase Manopole, accompanied by the Richtersveld Local Municipality Mayor, Cllr. Cornell Knopp, hosted a coastal clean-up campaign with the community of Port Nolloth today.
The coastal clean-up campaign took place after MEC Manopole had chaired a Provincial Coastal Committee (PCC) meeting in the area, to keep track of the Department’s institutional response to its mandates for coastal management. The PCC is a Provincial lead agency under the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act (Act No. 24 of 2008) (NEM: ICMA).
The Northern Cape PCC also advises the MEC, as the chairperson and the Provincial lead agency on matters related to coastal and marine resource policy and management, and co-ordinates effective implementation of the Integrated Coastal Management Act, as well as the application of other legislation relevant to the NC coastal, marine and estuarine environment.
Ahead of the clean-up campaign, the MEC indicated that plastic pollution in the ocean has become a global problem for both humans and marine life.
“However, as the Department we are have been answering the global call by joining the people around the world and taking initiative to help with solutions towards this problem,” she said.
MEC Manopole said the Department have been playing an increasingly important role in celebrating International Coastal Clean-Up Day since its inception.
“We have organized clean-up events, embarked on awareness campaigns, created advocacy campaigns, and much more.”
MEC called on the youth to be at the forefront of the fight for a healthy blue planet and the species that call it home.“Though there are many youth and others involved around the world who care deeply for our ocean, there is still a need for more people to get involved with not only celebrating World Ocean Day and International Coastal Clean-up Day, but also protecting and restoring the ocean. Whether you are a youth or an adult, if you live near a beach, river, or lake, everyone has the ability to make a change. Every ounce of single use plastic prevention helps; even removing one piece of plastic from the ocean could save the life of an animal,” MEC said.
The MEC further indicated that the PCC has go a mammoth task of developing the Northern Cape economy, creating jobs and the sustainable planning and development of coastal settlements, such as the Boegoebaai Harbour Development, the Green Hydrogen Project and the Northern Cape Coastal and Marine Tourism Plan, Natural and Cultural Resources Management as well as the Compliance, Enforcement and Monitoring activities.