Women volunteers lead change in Bedfordview and Edenvale communities

As SA celebrates Women’s Month, three women from Bedfordview and Edenvale are helping to reshape their communities.

Marina Constas, Anjela da Silva and Marianthi Xanthou are making an impact not through political office or high-profile platforms, but as volunteers leading local NPOs focused on safety, urban renewal and civic responsibility.

At Better Bedfordview, the Residents Action Group (RAG Security) and Better Edenvale, these women have stepped up not for recognition or reward, but out of a shared commitment to the neighbourhoods where they live, work and raise families.

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They all juggle busy day jobs to give back to the community.

Community action in Bedfordview

Marina, an attorney, director of BBM Law and long-standing community activist, chairs Better Bedfordview, a registered NPO that employs 25 full-time staff to clean, restore, and maintain streets, pavements, parks and public spaces.

“Our vision is to improve one suburb at a time through the power of engaged citizens,” she explained.

“If we allow our public spaces and infrastructure to deteriorate, we all pay the price through lower property values, increased crime and a reduced quality of life.”

Better Bedfordview partners with local businesses and residents to fund its work, but Marina notes that long-term sustainability remains a concern.

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“Only 19% of our revenue comes from residents, despite the visible results. We need broader buy-in to keep the work going.”

A Better Bedfordview success story that Marina said is close to her heart is the youth employment drive.

Through a partnership with the YES4Youth programme and sponsor WTW Willis, the organisation creates jobs for young people and has helped several transition into permanent employment in the Better Bedfordview cleanup team.

Marina doesn’t find it difficult to keep going, despite the challenges.

“Driving through the suburb and seeing the difference being made by Better Bedfordview reminds me why it’s worth the effort,” she said.

Security that really cares about the community

For Anjela, the chairperson of RAG Security, the journey into community work began after her family experienced two home invasions.

Years later, she joined RAG to turn that paralysing fear into crime-fighting action.

RAG is Bedfordview’s only nonprofit security initiative.

“It was started by residents who live in and own businesses in Bedfordview to protect the neighbourhood they love,” Anjela explained, adding that RAG’s directors are still volunteers and residents, a legacy she is proud to be part of.

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“As an NPO, RAG exists for our community, reinvesting all revenue into infrastructure, staff and technology. RAG’s recent achievements include improving on our already impressive armed response times to become one of the fastest responders in the country.

“We have added solar lighting to key locations around Bedfordview and partnered with the CPF and other security stakeholders to reactivate an important network of license plate recognition (LPR) cameras,” said Anjela.

However, she said RAG’s work goes beyond crime stats.

“It’s about community support and showing up when people need help.”

She highlighted several examples of this, from RAG foiling a hijacker’s escape to containing a house fire before emergency services arrived.

“Quick thinking and a hosepipe saved a home while waiting nearly 40 minutes for the fire brigade. These moments remind us why we do this work. It makes a real, tangible difference.

“We save lives and the things that matter to our community. Our teams are trained and professional, but they’re also dedicated to Bedfordview and care deeply about the community.

“The country is navigating the impact of tough economic times, times that also correlate with a rise in crime.

“We need people to view their security spend as an essential investment. It’s about protecting your family, street and suburb,” she said.

When Anjela isn’t working for RAG and Better Bedfordview, where she is also a volunteer director, she pursues her passion for the ancient craft of jewellery smithing.

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She traded 30 years in the corporate world and a fast-paced role in fintech for her jewellery workshop. There, she spends her days lighting blowtorches and wielding saws and hammers to create pieces in silver and gold.

Pride in a clean Edenvale

In Edenvale, Marianthi, who is a second-generation steel business owner, serves as a director at Better Edenvale.

The organisation focuses on cleaning, restoring, and maintaining the Edenvale and Eastleigh CBDs and their surroundings, as well as undertaking community improvement projects.

She became involved after attending a meeting and learning just how much behind-the-scenes co-ordination goes into the NPO’s daily work.

“I had to help. I’ve seen what happens when CBDs fall into neglect,” she said.

“Once that decline begins, reversing it becomes exponentially harder.”

Better Edenvale operates with a small team and limited resources, focusing on cleaning, infrastructure maintenance and filling the municipal service delivery gap.

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One of its recent projects, a large-scale cleanup of Denver Park at the bottom of the Edenvale Avenues, brought together volunteers and businesses. It was critical to restore this public space because it had become a magnet for crime and vagrancy.

“It was a massive undertaking but deeply rewarding,” explained Marianthi.

“It showed what’s possible when people step forward.”

Better Edenvale relies on funding from businesses and residents. However, Marianthi said that besides financial support, there are ways in which everyone can play their part in a better community.

“Declare war on litter and educate others, maintain your own pavement and help with community cleanups.

“Waiting for and relying on local government services alone is no longer realistic.”

A shared message: start somewhere

These local women share a common message about community improvement and volunteering: There is no better time than now to get involved, and it’s not about being perfect or waiting for the ideal conditions.
“Join an existing group, attend a meeting, offer your time or skills,” shared Marina.

“Everyone has something to contribute.”

Anjela agreed. “Start small but start, and don’t underestimate the value of being part of something bigger than yourself.”

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Marianthi added that setting an example matters.

“If our children see us taking pride in our town, they will, too.”

In a time of rising service delivery failures and public frustration, these women are helping to show that active citizens have the power to make a visible, lasting difference. They aren’t waiting for someone else to fix what is broken.

“Real change starts with each of us. Consider what you can do to make SA better. Whether contributing R200 a month, sponsoring a solar streetlight, donating gardening tools or giving your time, you have the power to be part of the solution,” Marina added.