By Nangamso Mabindla
14 September 2006

SCHOOLS in Buffalo City's rural areas have done their bit to keep the municipality clean, taking part in an annual clean-up campaign.

Scores of schoolchildren, dancing to popular music, collected litter in and around their schools.

The week-long campaign, by the Buffalo City and Amathole District municipalities and the provincial department of education, aims to encourage communities to take pride in their environment and keep it clean.

The clean-up bus visited schools in Mdantsane, Tsholomnqa, Nxarhuni, Nompumelelo in East London, and Masingatha and Tolofiya in King William's Town.

On Thursday, the City's team, from the waste management department, visited primary schools in Masingatha and Tolofiya.

A number of yellow refuse bags were filled with litter and then loaded onto the municipal refuse collection truck travelling with the clean-up team.

Communities were also encouraged to recycle waste and sell it to businesses in town.

The deputy principal of Tolofiya Primary School, Mandla Sixam, said that the youngsters worked hard at picking up rubbish after being educated about the importance of a clean school.

"These children worked miracles; we only had two days to turn our school around. I am very happy with the work these youngsters have done. I'm really proud of them," said Sixam.

He hoped the municipality would supply more refuse bags to the school so the youngsters could continue their good work. "We want these children to learn the importance of cleanliness from a very young age," he said.

The campaign will end on Friday, 15 September with a parade down the main road in King William's Town.