WSSD: Eco City Initiative
By Nicky Furniss
On a cloudy, drizzly day in Ivory Park, Mathapelo Mkhonza is explaining the
concept of solar cooking: “We have Modjadji, the Rain Queen, now all we need
is a Sun King for our solar panels!” she laughs. But overcast or not, the sun
certainly seems to be shining brightly on Ivory Park’s EcoCity: an oasis in a
scrubland of pylons, smoke and tin roofs.
In the heart of the informal settlement of Ivory Park, where a permanent
cloud of hazy smoke from coal fires hangs heavy, a filthy river is banked high
with chemical foam and unemployment runs at 50%, a brightly coloured group of
buildings make up the EcoCity village.
The village is a hive of activity, with building going on in every corner.
Intended as a demonstration site and tourist attraction, the completed village
will include indigenous gardens, a traditional African kraal, a poets’ corner,
a community centre and vibrant economic activity.
At the edge of the village is an organic market where farmers from six co-ops
sell their organic produce to the community. Within the village several types of
environmentally friendly houses are showcased. The community centre, which will
be used for workshops and training, is a prime example of “eco-building”.
Its doors have been salvaged from a condemned building, polystyrene blocks
will be used for insulation and its roof will be covered with soil and grass to
ensure a constant temperature in both cold and warm weather. Its windows face
northward to ensure it gets as much natural light as possible. Solar panels will
be the main source of electricity for the village.
The 14 women who form the Ubuhle Bemvelo Eco construction co-op are building
a residential village of 30 eco houses using local materials and environmental
techniques: “We want to encourage people to use eco building techniques. We
also want people to live and work in the same place as it cuts down on transport
and pollution.” Annie Sugrue, an EcoCity managing trustee, says the houses
will be purchased through a housing subsidy process, “but preference will be
given to people who have shown a commitment to the eco city and the environment,
or who have been involved in the building.”
Sugrue also wants to encourage a diversity of people living in the village,
including people from different co-ops and from the youth. Even though it costs
R4000 to R5000 to make a house eco-friendly, Sugrue maintains that these costs
are offset relatively quickly due to savings in heating and lighting costs: “Let’s
face it, in our climate, we don’t need to spend anything on heating if the
houses are orientated and built correctly in the first place.” Depending on
the success of the residential village Sugrue plans to create more eco villages
in different areas of Ivory Park.
The village is at the centre of a series of interlinked projects that grew
out of a fight against the proposed establishment of a toxic waste dump in Ivory
Park, near Midrand, in the early 1990s. After the battle was won, EcoCity was
born as a brave experiment in alleviating poverty – and doing it in a
sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
It’s a partnership between the EcoCity Trust, the City of Johannesburg and
many other groups both within and outside Ivory Park, as well as local and
international funders.
Another of the EcoCity projects is the the Shova Lula (easy pedal) cycle
co-operative, housed in a single shipping container surrounded by bicycles. The
co-op imports second-hand bikes and parts from England, Germany and Switzerland,
then bicycle mechanics like Godfrey Chidi repair them and sell them to the
community: “Bikes in our community are very important, the children use them
to go to school and other people use them in their businesses.”
As well as generating an income, Shova Lula also advocates bike use as a more
healthy, environmentally friendly and affordable means of transport. The co-op
also has its own racing team which Chidi coaches: “At the moment we are
preparing for the 94.7 cycle race. It’s a big race in Gauteng and we want to
do well.”
Sugrue says: “The Shova Lula people are so committed. Look at the guy who
works there, his English isn’t very good and he’s always covered in oil and
grime, but when he starts talking to people about the co-op, his eyes light up
and he becomes completely coherent. They’re so passionate and that’s what it’s
about.”
According to Sugrue, the youth play an important part in EcoCity. The youth
are involved in Shova Lula, serve as EcoCity guides and are involved in
conducting awareness-raising workshops in schools and the community. May of
these activities run through the Youth Environmental Project.
“We try to tell the community about the environment, and make children
aware of pollution,” says Makhonza, one of the young people trained as guides
by Gauteng Tourism Authority. They also encourage schools to get involved in
recycling, not only for environmental purposes but also as a form of
fundraising.
Making money from recycling is certainly not a new concept for Iteke Waste
Recycling Co-operative. Bottles, glass, paper, plastics and tin are brought by
waste collectors to the Iteke buy-back centre, which then sorts the waste and
sells it to recycling companies. The project employs 40 people, and director
Solly Ramokgano says: “Firstly it creates jobs for Ivory Park and second it
ensures a clean, healthy environment.”
The EcoCity initiative has won numerous awards, as well as the admiration of
many. According to Sugrue “We have achieved a blueprint for sustainable
development. The city of Johannesburg wants to implement the initiative
elsewhere in the city and other municipalities are also realising that the old
strategies no longer work.” Sugrue is thus understandably keen to publicise
their achievements and eco principles “I just found out that CNN are coming on
Sunday and they’re seen by everyone!” she says with enthusiasm. -- Witsnews
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