By Nangamso Mabindla
30 November 2004

BUFFALO City's Department of Health has handed over the annual Clean City Campaign to the City's Department of Community Service.

At a meeting attended by City officials from the Directorate of Social Services and sponsors of the Clean City Campaign, general manager for Health Services, Mkhululi Nkohla, said his department had done a good job since the launch of the campaign in 2000.

The annual campaign aims to encouraging Buffalo City citizens to take responsibility for the cleanliness of their city. "The campaign has been a success and we hope it continues on that path," Nkohla said.

"We have, over the years, combined cleaning with having fun," Nkohla added.

The clean-up campaign includes collecting litter from areas around Buffalo City and cleaning up the city's beachfront and shopping malls. Children from local schools also participate in the campaign.

In an effort to educate citizens about the importance of living in a clean environment, children are included in the activities.

Added Nkohla: "We thought we needed to teach tomorrow's residents first - that is why we involved local schools in the annual campaign."

The campaign's success is there for all to see: the city was voted the cleanest city in the Amathole district last year, an accolade it can be justly proud of.

Earlier this year the city beat 43 other municipalities when the Provincial Department of Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism voted it the cleanest in the province.

General Manager for Community Services, Graeme Smith, assured Nkohla his department would take over where the Health Department had left off.

"We've been working hand-in-hand with the Health Department, so taking over will not be difficult because we also know the ins and outs of the clean-up campaign," Smith said.