Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy and MakhotsoSotyu, Deputy Minister, expressed their deepest condolences on the passing of Simon Mbata, South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA), National Coordinator.
SAWPA is one organization that promotes, protects and defends the rights of waste pickers. Mbata, who was its advocate and a member of Global Alliance of Waste Pickers.
The role of waste pickers was widely acknowledged both nationally and internationally, at the United Nations Environment Assembly 5.2, held in Nairobi, Kenya, this week.
“At the national level, collaboration with South African Waste Pickers Association, African Reclaimers Organisation, the Department of Science and Innovation, the Department of Forestry, Fishery and the Environment (DFFE), and the Department of Science and Innovation resulted in the development of guidelines for the inclusion of waste pickers within the municipal waste management systems. Mbata was the Chairperson of SAWPA and participated in the inaugural 2019 Plastic Colloquium,” the Department stated on Thursday.
He also worked in 2020 with the DFFE, the private sector, and the DFFE to help waste pickers during the COVID-19 epidemic that affected waste collection systems.
Mbata gave a briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on 18 February 2022, the same day he died.
The department stated that “Minister Creecy and Deputy Minister Sotyu convey comfort to his family, friends, and colleagues.”
(With inputs from South African Government Press release)
