Bojanala platinum district municipality launches The State of the Environment Report

The Bojanala Platinum District Municipality is the only municipality in the North West Province of South Africa to develop a State of the Environment Report. The Report, which involves a detailed appraisal of the municipality’s environmental resources, is based on five thematic areas; Land-Use, Natural and Cultural Heritage, Air Quality, Water and Biodiversity.

The State of the Environment Report was officially launched in Rustenburg, Sundown Ranch Hotel on the 21 February 2012 during a workshop organised by the district municipality on Urban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management. In attendance were various environmental and technical officials from the district municipality, local municipalities, relevant provincial and national departments as well as elected councillors of the district municipality.

A Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Environmental Services in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, Violet Molotsi, signed a leadership pledge in support of The State of the Environment Report on behalf of the District Municipality Council and by so doing pledged commitments of the Municipal Council in ensuring that the objectives of the report are achieved. MMC Violet Molotsi noted the importance of planning in problem solving and indicated that the report would serve as a baseline which will inform better management action to ensure overall, sustainable development of the municipality is achieved.

ICLIE’s Cities Biodiversity Centre participated in the workshop by providing capacity building for all participants and informed on the need to consider biodiversity and ecosystem services in municipal planning. The ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre congratulates the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality on the initiative taken and applauds the commitment of the Municipal Council and its officials to ensure that the development of the district municipality is environmentally sustainable.