DailySun
Cape Town – Kaden Arguile, the national youth chairperson of the GOOD party, warns that South Africa is falling behind in its pledge to eradicate poverty and inequality.
“Time is running out for the United Nations (UN) Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Arguile cautioned on New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1, 2025).
Since being signed in 2015 by 193 UN member nations, the 2030 deadline to realize the goals of the Agenda is approaching swiftly.
“South Africa is not meeting its commitments to eliminate poverty and inequality, protect the environment, and ensure that every person has access to health, justice, and prosperity,” stated Arguile.
“Failure to achieve these international climate goals will have serious economic and diplomatic repercussions, with the youth ultimately bearing the brunt.”
“Waste management is one of the pivotal areas putting pressure on this deadline.”
Arguile noted that South Africa is struggling to make a significant impact on reducing waste generation through effective prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse strategies.
“It’s vital to acknowledge that nearly two thousand waste disposal, management, recycling, and export facilities registered with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment play a crucial role in shaping our environmental future,” he said.
“If these facilities fail to manage and report their waste levels accurately, our future is at risk.”
Highlighting the risks of inaccurate waste reporting, Arguile warned that misguided investments in infrastructure could result.
“Without reliable data, environmental decision-making will be undermined, potentially leading to a disastrous systems failure,” stated Arguile.
“Currently, only one-third of these 2,000 facilities are accurately reporting their waste to the department’s SA Waste Information Centre (SAWIC).
“As a result, millions of tons of waste remain unrecorded.
“The consequences of this negligence will affect the environments surrounding these facilities and the communities dependent on them.”
Arguile stressed that the department must ensure these facilities provide accurate data.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged some “accountability” has been established for those branches that fail to report.
In this context, Arguile called for complete transparency regarding the disciplinary processes and their outcomes.
Industry experts, professors, and members of organizations like the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa have described the remaining third of the data as “useless.”
Arguile stated, “A lack of equipment, provincial resources, and internet access, along with high turnover rates at facilities, has played a role in creating this situation.
“Immediate action is necessary to tackle this growing crisis.
“We cannot allow a total breakdown of waste management, as we have experienced with Eskom, Water, and the Postal Service.”
Arguile remarked, “The repercussions of this will impact future generations. The loss of biodiversity deprives children of essential environmental experiences.”
The national youth chairperson of the GOOD party urged the department to make public data on non-compliant facilities, promptly address the shortcomings of the SAWIC system, and initiate work on a new or revamped system for implementation at the earliest opportunity.
“The youth of our country cannot afford to let waste jeopardize our future,” concluded Arguile.
