The Unemployment Development and Environmental Forum is breaking ground through projects that promise to sustain the physical environment and provide needed economic opportunities for Victor Khanye Local Municipality and beyond.
The late Vusisizwe Fakude Nkosi and founder of UDEF, who sadly passed away in 2019, was the mastermind behind UDEF’s objectives to help eradicate unemployment, to bring a bonafide support structure for skills development and environmental conservation in VKLM. Through its strategy to mobilise local businesses in VKLM to combat unemployment, UDEF counts amongst its accomplishments the artisan learnership programme in collaboration with Eskom, which transformed previous security officers into Artisans.
During a recent conversation with Highveld Chronicle, the executive members Teresa Khanye (chairperson), Dikeledi Selina Kgoete (Treasurer), Prince Moyo (Secretary) and Smanga Mashiane ( Deputy Secretary), reminisced on the UDEF’s interesting journey to date which include challenges encountered by the forum such as bringing stakeholders on board to support its vision. Following the departure of the late chairperson Nkosi, the organisation’s executive was restructured in 2020 joined by Nehemiah Kutumela as Deputy Chairperson.
Celebrating its 8th year anniversary since its inception in 2013 UDEF has accomplished greater objectives in collaboration with its stakeholders. One of the outstanding accomplishments by the forum was through drafting an Air Quality Management Strategy – submitted to parliament and was endorsed by President Cyril Ramaphosa during SONA 2019.
UDEF’s stakeholders include:
National Department of Environmental Affairs, Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs, Victor Khanye Local Municipality, Sandvik, McCain (funder and sponsor for UDEF events), BNT Steel, Glencore, Sephako, Eskom, South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), Department of Social Development and Keaton Energy.
UDEF aims to bring VKLM to life through by accomplishing the following projects:
Protecting and preserving the twin towers (wetlands and grasslands). A project to revitalize the water stream which runs along the industrial zone, as the stream used to produce clean water, to redirect the water back into the One-Hour River. A recreational centre will be constructed over the wetlands which will be a home to activities such as the arts and creative centre, after-school classes, soup kitchen, a park and more. All these activities at the recreational centre are meant to give opportunities to the economically disadvantaged VKLM residents with an opportunity in these activities that are only enjoyed by the privileged citizens.
One of the projects under UDEF’s belt is the land refill – which is also amongst the projects which will fulfil the employment needs and further create business opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises. “UDEF would like to branch out to other provinces within South Africa which will also fulfil the dream of the founder of the organization, the late Nkosi,” said UDEF chairperson, Teresa Khanye. UDEF further invites organisations which are driven by environmental conservation and skills development to work with them.
