Page 21 - IFV Issue 4 May 2023

Estate News

COCA-COLA AND SOUTH AFRICA’S

WATER FUTURE

orld Water Day, annually area network in the Enkangala
celebrated on 22 March, Drakensberg Strategic Water Source
Wraises awareness and inspires area by 2 500 ha. The project will
action to tackle the global water and be accompanied by improved
sanitation crisis. This year, Coca-Cola in land management practices across
South Africa and its bottling partners 12 000 ha, in collaboration with
joined the United Nations to mobilise two local community property
on behalf of the country’s citizens living associations in Wakkerstroom and
without access to safe water. In addition, Donkerhook.
the Coca-Cola Foundation and its Coca-Cola’s bottling part ners are
partners also rehabilitate hectares of land also committed to water restoration
in ongoing water conservation projects. enterprises. Coca-Cola Beverages
Coca-Cola has committed to South Africa (CCBSA) initiated Coke
replenishing every drop of water Ville: innovative off-grid, solar
used, ensuring it goes back to the powered groundwater harvesting
environment, as part of its 2030 Water systems that pump, treat, store
Security Strategy. Through its Replenish and distribute clean water. Coke
Photo by MRJN Photography, Unsplash
Africa Initiative (RAIN), the foundation Ville launched in 2020 with three
invested USD 65 million to improve the lives of six million systems in Limpopo and has expanded to 32 sites across
South Africans, providing access to clean water and sanitation. the country, including the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KZN.
Subsequently, the founda tion announced an investment Each project is designed to provide these communities
in four new projects in South Africa, removing invasive alien with 10-20 million litres of water annually. To date, over
plants from critical water catchment areas feeding major 400 million litres have been distributed to over 25 000
cities and towns across the country. So far, the foundation has households throughout the country.
committed USD 989, 571 in grant funding to return water to Similarly, Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB) focuses
nature by rehabilitating degraded landscapes, removing alien on water conservation in its daily operations. Over the
plants and supporting local communities to improve their past 11 years, CCPB has reduced its water usage by 50%,
land management practices. and was awarded a five star rating by the City of Cape
To date, teams have collectively rehabilitated and improved Town for water preservation in 2019, which still holds true
land management practices across more than 11 500 hectares. today. CCPB continues to deliver water to drought-stricken
Rehabilitation activities range from reducing soil erosion on communities and is a regular initiator and participant in
mountain slopes, to improving grazing practices, to cutting coastal clean-ups that aim to remove damaging litter from
down invasive alien plants. The activities are tailored to the South Africa’s beaches and oceans.
local context and circumstances of the landscape. The projects These water-centric initiatives contribute to the water
have provided more than 155 jobs, 82 of which are done pillar under JAMII, an African-focussed sustainability
by women and 35 by youths. In addition to employment, platform launched by Coca-Cola Africa in 2022. JAMII
these beneficiaries also receive skills training (veld and houses existing and new sustainability initiatives in the
fire management, first aid, chainsaw usage and herbicide areas of waste management, water stewardship and
application) to improve their future employability in the green economic empowerment of women and youth.
industry. Through JAMII, Coca-Cola is partnering with local
The Coca-Cola Foundation partnership, which is with the communities, government and like-minded organisations
World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa in the to assess and drive effective sustainability goals. These
Enkangala Drakensberg of Mpumalanga, has generated include providing people with access to safe drinking water,
impressive results. This project supports the Integrated Vaal supporting communities with skills and job creation, and
River System serving Gauteng by investing in improved land reducing the impact of its operations on the environment.
management upstream and will expand the existing protected Information supplied by FTI Consulting

The Villager • Issue 4 2023 • 19