It has been nearly three years since the big green cleaning machine known as Clean Projects whirled in to action trimming, taming and sprucing up the city.

Support for the community-based organisation has not only led to Benoni’s northern suburbs donning a new jacket but continued contributions from the community and business have assisted in the creation of 12 employment opportunities.

Stepping onto frost-covered grass at the Pauline Davis Park on the corner of Great North Road and Fifth Avenue
recently, the green team kick into action picking up litter, emptying rubbish bins and using brush cutters to trim around trees and lamp posts.

“Today could be a game changer, a reward for our ongoing efforts,” said Mervyn Manning, Clean Projects volunteer.

“Following countless meetings with the City of Ekurhuleni’s Parks Department, the HOD committed to sending
two tractors to the 54 000m² park to assist us in our ongoing maintenance programme.”

Celebrating the occasion, Manning said that the metro committing to assisting with grass cutting in collaboration
with the organisation, is step in the right direction in getting basic service delivery back on track.

“A park such as Pauline Davis, is big and the vegetation is thick,” said Manning.

“Although we have made remarkable progress in ensuring that the park, and many other open areas are well maintained, our equipment’s capabilities are limited. With the CoE’s assistance we will be able to achieve so much more.”

Praising the movement’s ongoing efforts, CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said Clean Projects has had a positive impact on the city’s workload, as it aligns with its vision to provide inclusive service delivery to improving public spaces.

“Clean Projects has helped ease operational strain, allowing municipal teams to allocate resources more effectively across the region,” said Dlamini.

“They consistently demonstrate their commitment and effectiveness in maintaining public spaces. While there is currently no formal agreement between the CoE and the organisation, we are open to exploring structured collaborations.

“Such partnerships could provide a more formal framework for scaling up successful community-driven initiatives.”

Follow Clean Projects’s Facebook page for more information about upcoming clean ups.

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