EAST LONDON – In a significant gathering, the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Makhotso Sotyu took the lead at the Women in Environment Dialogue held on the 9th-10th November 2023 at the East London international convention center.
The 2023 Women in Environment Dialogue brought together women from the waste management sector, providing a platform to address challenges, advocate for economic empowerment and honor outstanding contributions to waste management. This year’s theme was ‘Celebrating Women in the Waste Management Sector Today for a Sustainable Future’ aimed to underscore the pivotal role of waste management in creating sustainable opportunities for businesses and individuals.
During the dialogue, participants shared experiences, discussed challenges and raised awareness about the health impacts of waste on communities. The event not only focused on acknowledging achievements but also aimed at fostering a collaborative environment to overcome hurdles faced by women in the waste management industry.
The Deputy Minister emphasized the need for collective efforts to promote sustainability and recognized the vital role women play in shaping the future of waste management. She highlighted the importance of economic empowerment for women in the sector.
Furthermore Delivering her key note address the Deputy Minister, Sotyu urged the nation to address the unique challenges opportunities facing women in the waste sector. “We must promote gender mainstreaming in this field to innovate, improve socio economic conditions”,said the Minister.
Lulama Daniels senior manager of Waste Management and Air Quality was also present in the dialogue and mentioned that, “items in terms of the Waste Management perspective, as a country, we have policy instruments that were developed to respond to waste challenges that are framed around the concept of sustainable development. CIS is for opportunities that help us to sustain livelihoods, thus there are livelihoods that we need to ensure that life on earth happens no matter what. This is just a few highlights in terms of the profile of the Eastern Cape province,” said Daniels.
As the dialogue concluded, it left a resonating message about the importance of women’s involvement in waste management for a sustainable and healthier future. The event served as a catalyst for positive change, bringing attention to the vital issues faced by women in the sector and celebrating their role in shaping a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
