ZAC partners with ezemvelo to combat alien invasive plants

ZAC has partnered with conservation organisation Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife on an Alien Invasive Plants Eradication Programme. ZAC Environmental Officer Msawenkosi Buthelezi highlights that this is an important milestone for the neighbouring entities as well as the communities surrounding the mine.

“Parthenium weeds are invasive plants that are responsible for shrinking grazing sites and are also poisonous to animals – if consumed. They also consume a significant amount of water resulting in less water availability in rivers and springs, which is particularly troublesome as the region is already water stressed,” he explains.

This partnership has already created employment for eight local community members from the four neighbouring traditional communities. Msawenkosi says that the community members are being trained and once they have completed their training, they will become certified Pesticide Control Operators (PCO). This will assist them in securing future employment opportunities, or even enable them to open their own companies under the Alien Invasive Plants Management Programme, which falls under the auspices of the Department of Environmental Affairs.

I-ZAC ibambisene nabe-ezemvelo ukulwa nezitshaloezibulala ezinye

I-ZAC ibambisene nenhlangano yezemvelo, i-Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, ohlelweni lokulwa nezitshalo ezibulala ezinye olwaziwa nge-Alien Invasive Plants Eradication Programme. Obhekele ezemVelo e-ZAC, uMsawenkosi Buthelezi, ubalule ukuthi yigxathu elimqoka leli ezinkampanini zendawo nemiphakathi eseduze kwemayini.

“Ukhula lwe-parthenium luyimbangela yokuncipha kwamadlelo emfuyo kanti futhi lunobuthi ezilwaneni uma ziludlile. Imfuyo iyoma, iphuze amanzi amaningi uma iwutholile, okuholela ekuncipheni kwamanzi emifuleni naseziphethwini, okuyinto ekhathazayo njengoba lesi sifunda sivele sintula amanzi,” kusho yena.

Loku kubambisana sekudale amathuba omsebenzi kubantu bendawo bezizwe ezine abayisishiyagalombili. UButhelezi uthi abantu bendawo bayaqeqeshwa kanti kuyothi uma sekuphothulwe ukuqeqeshwa kwabo bathole izitifiketi zokufutha ngomuti obulala ushevu. Loku kuzobenza babe sethubeni elingcono lokuthola umsebenzi ngelinye ilanga noma ukuvula izinkampani zabo ezenza lo msebenzi ngaphansi kohlelo i-Alien Invasive Plants Management Programme, olungaphansi kweso lomNyango wezokuGcinwa kweMvelo.