Illegal dumping site cleaned up after body found in Eden Park

As part of #16DaysOfActivism, I Matter embarked on a community illegal dump site clean-up.

The clean-up comes after the community found the body of an infant dumped on the site. It also became a hotspot for various crime activities, which posed a danger to the community.

The clean-up event was held to celebrate the World Volunteer Day on December 5.

I Matter is a non-profit organisation which aims to collaborate with the community by giving them chances and resources, acknowledging their ownership, and helping to build a safe and friendly community for everyone.

The organisation’s founder and coach, Natalie Abrahams, said this event required extensive planning because she acknowledged they needed additional help to achieve its goal. She made an effort to gather as many entities as she could because more vision-driven individuals lead to better results.

“The aim is to make sure the children that grow up in Eden Park regard the area as a safe and healthy environment, as well as to take the community forward in unity.

“The community came in numbers to help eradicate the dirt in the area. I am thankful for that because it shows we are indeed a community that works together,” she said.

I Matter hired a truck to take the rubbish to one of the city’s dumping sites. Some local businesses also offered a helping hand to remove the waste from the area.

To guarantee adherence to safety protocols, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) gave t-shirts, caps, bags, gloves, masks, sanitiser and trash black bags to use while cleaning the area.

After the thorough clean-up, the community painted the wall next to the illegal dumping site and wrote messages of hope on it.

“We thank everyone who helped us clean,” she concluded.

Individuals who cleaned up the site got a free medical screening afterwards and enjoyed a scrumptious lunch after they were finished.