The month of June started off on a positive note as the sustainability week, hosted by the City of Tshwane was underway at the CSIR Convention Centre. The Sustainability Week started on the 31st of May to the 5th of June with a primary aim of ‘Advancing the Green Economy through the sharing of knowledge and experience across disciplines, sectors, and markets – actively seeking to develop and accelerate sustainability oriented project pipelines'. Both private and public sector showed vested interest in Green Economy as the event secured partnerships and sponsorships from major private and public institutions including the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environmental Affairs, Nedbank and others. The conference brought together individuals from diversity professional and sector backgrounds to re-engage on challenges and solutions in aid of Green Economy.
Meanwhile, The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works was recognised by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) for its work on a R128 million regional office building at Karl Bremer Hospital in Bellville currently under construction for the Department of Health. The project became the first recipient of the GBCSA Socio-Economic Category Pilot Award and was also awarded the GBCSA 5-Star Green Star Certified SA rating for design of a public or education building. The new office is expected to be completed in January 2017.
All this happens in the month of June which in South Africa is popularly known as youth month in commemoration of 1976 Soweto uprising where a group of high school learners embarked on peaceful marches against the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instructions in local schools. Unfortunately, the march had brutal and dire consequences. 40 years later, young South Africans, as the ‘future of South Africa’ experience individual and other liberties including education and green economy promises a sustainable future.