City of gold to go green for cup

The Klip River catchment area, which runs into the Vaal dam, will be rehabilitated, Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo says.

Masondo was opening the Institute of Environmental and Recreation Management's annual convention at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg.

He said various important environmental projects had been identified for specific areas around the city.

These would be implemented in preparation for the Fifa World Cup and would have a long term benefit on the city.

"We need to act to turn the world from its current path of unsustainable development," Masondo said in a statement.

In addition to the rehabilitation project on the Klip River, there were plans to plant 200,000 trees before the start of the World Cup in June.

The trees would mainly be planted in previously disadvantaged areas in the south of Johannesburg, he said.

Masondo said that battle against climate change could be won in the cities.

"We can find local solutions to global problems."