BEACHES CLEANED

Beaches cleaned in run up to summer

By Tabisa Mntengwana
22 September 2009

LEARNERS are being encouraged to help keep Buffalo City clean as summer approaches.

With International Cleanup Day marked on Saturday, 19 September, children from various East London primary schools have been preparing for a pleasant and clean summer this festive season, pitching in to smarten up beaches.

The programme kicked off on Monday, 14 September, at Eastern Beach. The 10 learners from Montessori Primary School in West Bank filled 31 refuse bags with litter they had collected, while other primary schools that participated included President, Kidds Beach, Gonubie and Merrifield.

Sharing his views about the initiative, municipal spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said: "We are hoping that by raising awareness and encouraging learners to get involved in the cleanup, the City will help them understand the importance of preserving our environment and ensuring that the city is clean and ready to receive visitors."

The municipality marked International Cleanup Day by cleaning Nahoon and Gonubie beaches. "This annual event is set to encourage communities to keep their areas clean," explained Siani Tinley, from Buffalo City's marine services.

Various community organisations, political parties and residents in the Beacon Bay and Gonubie areas were involved, and the Plastic Federation sponsored the bags used to collect litter on both cleanup days.

"This company has helped the municipality and contributed to a clean environment," said Tinley. Data sheets were used to collate information on all the litter collected, "and this contributes to national and international statistics on pollution and litter".

Speaking on Saturday at Gonubie Beach, ward councillor Roy Engelbeck said: "Next year's cleanup will be much better; we are planning to have prizes for everyone who takes part.

"The relationship between the municipality and our stakeholders is stronger now."

Marine services, together with Hemingways Casino, acknowledged those who got involved, with the casino handing over a cheque of R1 500 to Montessori Primary for filling the most refuse bags with litter.

Mike Page, Hemingways' general manager, thanked everyone who had participated: "With this spirit we can make a better society. It's obvious we all have the same goal - to live in a cleaner society."