The MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Mlungisi Mvoko, recently visited Ndabankulu Senior Secondary School, in Gcuwa, and handed over an ecological resource management system (ERMS) to the school.
This intervention would significantly improve water and sanitation conditions for schools in the rural areas of their province while also contributing to the National Schools Nutrition Programme.
“Recently, we have observed and experienced persistent drought conditions and the spectre of continuously warm weather conditions due to climate change, which threaten future water security. It has become evident that water may increasingly become the limiting resource restricting future socio-economic development of our province and that of our country,” said Mvoko.
He said this therefore requires them to acquire appropriate and affordable technologies that provide long-lasting solutions to their water-related challenges. He said the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, through their agency, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, in partnership with Finishes of Nature Global (Pty) Ltd, have implemented this ERMS innovation in 30 schools, mostly in the Amathole and Chris Hani regions.
“This has afforded these beneficiaries with dignified waterborne sanitation, linked to on-site renewable energy generation, nutrient beneficiation, through the vegetable gardens that feed the schools, and resource recycling. This system is centred on the pilot roll-out of the integrated biogas and algal sanitation system (IBASS).”
Mvoko confirmed that the system had demonstrated a reliable, robust and low maintenance approach to providing rural schools with decent, dignified and safe sanitation. “The ERMS system, therefore, puts an emphasis on the promotion of water sanitation and hygiene, given that it is directly linked to improved standard of living and is also an important component for quality education.”
