Cape Town – Kaden Arguile, the national youth chairperson of the GOOD party, cautions that South Africa is falling behind in its effort to eradicate poverty and inequality.
“Time is running out to fulfill the United Nations (UN) Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Arguile warned on New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1, 2025).
With 193 UN member nations signing the Agenda in 2015, the 2030 deadline for achieving its goals 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,” Arguile stated.
“Neglecting to meet these global climate targets carries considerable economic and diplomatic repercussions, affecting youth the most.”
“Waste management stands out as a pressing area concerning this deadline.”
Arguile noted that South Africa is facing challenges in significantly reducing waste production through effective prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse initiatives.
“It is crucial to understand that nearly two thousand waste disposal, management, recycling, and export facilities registered with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment play a vital role in determining our environmental future,” he remarked.
“If these facilities fail to manage and accurately report their waste levels, our future is at risk.”
Arguile highlighted the dangers of inaccurate waste reporting, cautioning that misguided investments in infrastructure could ensue.
“Without reliable data, environmental decisions will be flawed, leading to a potential systemic collapse,” asserted Arguile.
“Currently, only one-third of these 2,000 facilities are accurately submitting their waste data to the department’s SA Waste Information Centre (SAWIC).
“As a result, millions of tons of waste go unreported.
“This oversight will affect the environments around these facilities as well as the communities that depend on them.”
Arguile stressed that the department must ensure these facilities provide accurate data.
Nonetheless, he recognized that some level of “accountability” has been established for branches that do not comply.
In this regard, Arguile called for complete transparency concerning the disciplinary actions and their outcomes.
Industry specialists, academics, and members of organizations like the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa have deemed the remaining third of data as “useless.”
Arguile commented, “A shortage of equipment, provincial resources, and internet access, alongside high turnover rates among staff at facilities, has led to the current predicament.
“Urgent intervention is necessary to tackle this escalating crisis.
“We cannot allow a total breakdown in Waste management, as witnessed with Eskom, Water, and the Postal Service.”
Arguile observed, “The ramifications of this will impact future generations. The decline in biodiversity deprives children of essential environmental experiences.”
The national youth chairperson of the GOOD party urged the department to disclose data on non-compliant facilities, promptly rectify the shortcomings of the SAWIC system, and begin developing a new or improved system for immediate implementation.
“The youth of our nation cannot afford to let waste jeopardize our future,” concluded Arguile.
