Speaker, the ANC commends the partnership of the SA National Civic Organisation, Sanco, and the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs in implementing a programme to get rid of waste tyres.
The department's programme called the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa, Redisa, is making inroads in the townships. Together with civic organisations, they are rolling out the waste tyre plan. This programme will see the removal of waste tyres from the environment, creating jobs and strengthening the local recycling industry. Their plan included setting up and managing a national network for collecting and temporarily storing waste tyres, delivering to recyclers and supporting the development of a waste tyre recycling industry. Redisa's integrated industry waste tyre management plan cleared its last legal challenge in the Supreme Court of Appeal in May.
According to Redisa, the tyre industry produces more than 10 million waste tyres every year. It is estimated that between 60 million and 100 million scrap tyres are currently stockpiled in South Africa. The ANC appreciates this partnership with civic associations, as it helps to ensure that the communities are not left behind in decisions taken by government. I thank you.