The City of Johannesburg’s Region E will launch ‘Operation Hloekisa’ on 5 August as a clean-up campaign for the greater Alexandra which includes areas like Bramley, Marlboro, Wynberg, Kew and Limbro Park.

The clean-up initiative is part of the extension of the 67 minutes of the Mandela Day in honour of former president Nelson Mandela, who turned 95 years on 18 July. A number of initiatives have previously been implemented to curb the spread and increase of rodents in Alexandra and this initiative is no different.

“Operation Hloekisa”, a Sesotho word for make it clean, will start on 5 August and run for a period of 30 days and will involve sweeping and cleaning of all the streets and avenues in Alexandra, one-by-one. The various entities and departments of the City of Johannesburg will join hands with communities in this clean-up campaign.

An education campaign will be conducted during ‘Operation Hloekisa’ which will embrace the theme, ‘Towards the Promotion of a Cleaner Environment’.

Among the objectives of the campaign will be to empower communities to take the lead in keeping their environment clean; to sensitise them on the problems of illegal dumping and alternatives available; to encourage to recycle as an alternative that reduces waste and is also a source of income; and to avoid wasting water.

The campaign is expected to be led by regional director, Liziwe Ntshinga-Makoro and her staff and the various city entities.