2010 COUNTDOWN12 March 2010 Page 5

CELO BUTHELEZI

THE Municipality haslaunched a series of booksaimed at combatting globalwarming and providing thepublic with eco-friendlysolutions to dealing withclimate change.

Developed by theEnvironmental Planning andClimate Protection Unit andthe Strategic Projects Unit,the Greening Durban 2010series provides informationon four critical areas ofclimate change: water, greenlandscaping, energyefficiency and sustainablewaste.

Speaking at launch, Mayor

Obed Mlaba encouragedresidents and businesses tofind ways to reduce theirimpact on the environmentand make eThekwini a moresustainable city.

“These books are a greatsource of information. Theyoffer practical, easy tips tothose wanting to do their bitin combatting changingclimate,” Mlaba said.

The Head of the StrategicProjects Unit, Julie-MayEllingson, said Durbanwanted to leave a positivelegacy and had taken steps toensure a carbon neutralWorld Cup.

“This (2010) was an idealopportunity to promote the

Municipality’s green agenda.Environmentally sustainableprinciples were entrenched inall projects for 2010.

“Past hosts of the World Cupfound there was a massiveincrease in waste andpollution during the event.With this in mind, we thoughtit essential that theMunicipality puts togetherplans to minimise thetournament’s effects on theenvironment,” said Ellingson.

The water conservationbook gives information onhow to save water. One low-cost suggestion is to installlow-flow aerated taps on yourbasin and low-pressureshowerheads.

The sustainable wastemanagement book looks atways of managing waste andthe different processesavailable to the public.

The green landscapingbook discusses biodiversityand the importance ofplanting to create a healthierenvironment.

The energy efficiency booksuggests power savingprogrammes thathomeowners, business andindustry can implement.

The green books can bedownloaded athttp://fifaworldcup.durban.gov.za/Pages/GreeningDurban2010

buthelezicelo@durban.gov.za

NTUTHUKO ZIKHALI

THE Health Unit is workingaround the clock to ensurethat visitors and locals alikeenjoy a safe, healthy WorldCup.

Key focus areas are foodsafety, pollution reduction,water quality testing and riskidentification and planning.

The unit has been closelyinvolved in the planningprocesses for the major Fifaprecincts, including theMoses Mabhida Stadium,public viewing areas, traininggrounds and King ShakaAirport.

Food safety is particularlyimportant and the unit helda food advisory seminar latelast year to ensure formalsector food businessesunderstood what wasrequired to comply with foodsafety regulations.

Manager of Food SafetyJustice Dlamini said that theMunicipality, together withother stakeholders, werecontinuing to roll out foodsafety training, both to theformal and Informal sectors.

Deputy Head of PollutionControl and RiskManagement Siva Chettysaid the aim was to ensurefood was safe and free ofcontamination and that anyincidents of food poisoningthat may arise are quicklyaddressed and any ill effectsminimised.

“The Municipality isconcerned about the safetyof its citizens and visitors.Knowing that most peoplerely on formal food sectorsand that 2010 FIFA WorldCup is close by, we need tobe certain that all foodretailers in the city follow allthe food protocolprecautions and that they areproperly monitored by thehealth officials” Chetty said.

Guidelines and protocols

have been designed to assistthe unit’s environmentalhealth practitioners to workmore efficiently over the busyWorld Cup month.

These include guidelinesfor the remote search parkand food sampling.

Health PractitionerManager in the NorthernDistrict Phindi Mchunu saidthat the sampling rate wouldincrease during the WorldCup and they would haveteams in all spheres of thetournament.

The unit is engaged withservice providers of the fancamp, which will be at theSahara Kingsmead Stadiumduring the tournament. Theaim is to ensure that propersanitation, waste disposaland food preparation areasare provided.

UpgradedThe Food Safety Laboratory

at 9 Archie Gumede Place isbeing upgraded and by thetime the World Cup arrives itwill have an enhancedcapacity to deal with rapidbacteriological sampling andtesting.

The unit has purchasedand equipped a mobile airquality testing station formonitoring of pollution.

The Blue Lagoon precinct isbeing upgraded to ensurethat all the food traders arecompliant and the area isclean and healthy for therecreational activitiesexpected during the event.

The unit has securedadditional resources forovertime expenditure formonitoring and surveillanceduring the World Cup.

The Vector Control teamhave completed rodent,roach and malaria control inthe targeted Fifa precinctareas.

zikhalin@durban.gov.za

Guides to going green in 2010

Specialfocus onfood safety

SAFE HANDS: Environmental Health Practitioner withthe Health Unt, Phindi Mchunu, takes a food sample ina Cato Manor eatery

HAVING A BALL: The Muncipality is a co-sponsor of the 100 Jabulani soccer ball competition. Every day untilthe World Cup kick-off someone will win a soccer ball. Left: Council Chief Whip Fawzia Peer presents DesireAdams with her prize. Centre: Councillor Zandile Gumede with the prizes outside the City Hall. Right: CouncillorVisvin Reddy and winner Riyadh Asmal

ABOVE: Cafu, the most-capped Brazilian footballer ofall time, meets fans, Sphesihle Ndaba and BoyzieShembe, of InandaLEFT: The Drakensberg Boy’s Choir put on a show atthe 100 days gala dinner

KENAKO!: Staunch Bafana supporters were at the Moses Mahbhida Stadium to give a Fifa delegation andvisiting journalists a rousing welcome. The delegation were inspecting the readiness of the stadium