West Rand hosts a climate change awareness programme under the theme “Think Globally, Think Locally”.
Thabo Motlhabi
The West Rand District Municipality, together with its municipalities, hosted a climate change awareness and community outreach programme (COP) at Mogale City Centenary Hall in October 25, 2025. The event brought together various stakeholders, civil society organisations, and community representatives.
Stakeholders involved were:
SALGA
ICLEI Africa
faith-based leaders
traditional healers
Mayors
Wards Counsellors
MMC
The objective of the campaign was to educate, inform, and engage all stakeholders in the evolving challenges of climate change within the West Rand region. The programme aimed to raise awareness among residents about the dangers posed by climate change, identify major contributors to environmental degradation and adapt to these impacts before it’s too late.
This platform provided an opportunity for participants to voice their concerns regarding climate change and its impact on infrastructure, properties, public safety, livestock, and local investments. The discussions also focused on implementation to protect the environment and build climate resilience.
Mogale City, known for its mining and industrial activities, faces additional environmental risks such as dolomite instability and sinkholes, which threaten infrastructure and human safety. These challenges highlight the urgency of coordinated efforts to promote sustainable development and safeguard lives and investments.
As the Mayor of Mogale City CLLR Lucky Sele said, “It gives me pride to welcome you all to Mogale City – the urban city centre of the Cradle of Humankind and World Heritage Site. This is a place where the story of humanity began, and today, it’s where we continue the story of our shared responsibility to protect the earth that sustains us. Colleagues, this Town Hall (COP) forms part of a national reform closer to the people. It’s aligned with the local governments and municipal authorities and the constituency to the UNFCCC, and it contributesto South Africa’s preparation for the third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0).
Under the Paris Agreement. But beyond the policies and frameworks, this platform is about one thing: making climate action real at the local level.”
Sele further stated, “In Mogale City, we understand this deeply. Our environmental reality reflects both the promise and the pain of our developmental history. The legacy of mining has left us with contaminated land, unstable dolomitic conditions, and abandoned mine dumps which are now Zama-Zama hubs that still pose risks to nearby communities. On top of that, we face growing waste management pressure, illegal dumping, and the effects of rapid urbanisation. Yet, despite these challenges, we have refused to be poor. Through our integrated environmental management framework, we are improving land use, planning expanding green open spaces, and introducing cleaner waste management systems. We have invested in energy efficiency programmes, intensified our cleanup and greening campaigns, and strengthened partnerships with schools, youth structures, and community organisations to promote environmental awareness.”
Although the West Rand has not yet experienced severe climate-related disaster, this workshop served as a proactive step towards developing local adaptation strategies and sustainable practices.
As part of its ongoing green initiatives, the municipality launched several projects to promote environmental awareness and sustainability, including.
Tree planting drives, with a target of planting 1000 trees across the city.
School-hosting awareness campaigns on recycling, pollution prevention, and environmental protection.
Community education programmes on the dangers of illegal dumping and how to transform open spaces into productive community assets that create jobs and improve local living conditions.
The campaign also aligns with South Africa’s preparation for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will be held in Brazil this coming November, where national and local leaders will work to mobilise resources and strengthen climate resilience strategies.
Through this initiative, the West Rand District reaffirms its commitment to thinking globally and acting locally – ensuring that communities are informed, empowered, and actively contributing to the global fight against climate change.