Zwelitsha is cleaned up
By Tabisa Mntengwana
26 May 2010
More than 150 members of the Zwelitsha community took up arms against dirt, cleaning the streets in the township.
The big clean up, part of the City’s Make A Difference (MAD) campaign launched in March this year, involved the clearing of illegal dumps, the addition of more refuse drop-off points, the cutting of grass, street sweeping and picking up litter.
Participants on the day, Tuesday, 19 May, included youth, inmates on parole, unemployed residents and a local soccer team. They were armed with heavy machinery, mowers, spades, brooms and refuse bags.
Work began at 8am, followed by a speech by Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku at OR Tambo Hall in Zone 1, Zwelitsha. Faku said: “Cleaning the streets and clearing the bushes is an ongoing process. We need you [the community] to take the initiative to keep your streets clean.”
She also thanked the Department of Correctional Services for giving inmates on parole a chance to be part of the clean up. “They are our people and we are proud to have them among us and part of a great initiative like this.”
Also involved in the clean up initiative is the City’s environmental health and waste management unit, the Department of Environmental Affairs, Department of Water Affairs, Institute of Waste Management and Eastern Cape Environmental Forum.
Before Zwelitsha, it was the turn of Dimbaza, near King William’s Town. The City and the community rolled up their sleeves on Wednesday, 12 May and got to work cleaning the township.
Speaking to the crowd, the general manager for waste management, Yoliswa Sinyanya, emphasised the benefits and importance of waste management and cleanliness: “Having clean streets will eliminate health hazards and diseases. As residents you have a right to live in a safe, healthy and sustainable environment.”
Five areas were cleaned in Dimbaza. According to a press release issued by the municipality, the clean up is an effort to instill a culture of community pride, ownership and cleanliness while enhancing the spirit to warmly welcome the many visitors to Buffalo City during the World Cup.
The next clean up campaign will be held in Mdantsane on Wednesday, 2 June.
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