Community cleans up Morningside’s prime spot
A bakkie load of litter was picked up, and indigenous plants were planted in fresh flower beds, making the popular Durban spot look beautiful again.
A COMMUNITY-FUNDED project in collaboration with Clifton School took to the streets of Morningside to help clean and improve the popular viewing site at the Cube Reservoir in Innes Road, Morningside.
Organisers of On the Verge, a greening project, have taken it upon themselves to care for the verges and community spaces in the heart of Morningside.
The Clifton learners took turns as they cleaned the area which was filled with litter big enough to fill a bakkie. They then planted over 300 plants around the flower beds and placed a new bin at the viewpoint. On the Verge says they are working closely with eThekwini Parks, Recreation and Culture Amenities towards a cleaner and safer city.
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Leanne Nixon-James, director of On the Verge, said they decided to clean at the cube because it was once a marvellous place to visit to see the whole of Durban. “It’s a prime outlook site for our city but sorely neglected. There are overgrown weeds and litter, and it is unsightly. We wanted to make it a site worth visiting again and to beautify as well as clean up a neglected yet prominent part of our community,” said James.
James further added that as much as they expect the municipality to take care of the city, as a community they are also responsible for taking care of their neighbourhood, to make it the way they want it to be. “We have a beautiful city, and we, as a community, can make a difference. It’s much easier to sit back and complain but we can rather put on our work boots and do something.”
The popular Ricksha Bus makes a mandatory stop at the Cube. The double-decker bus follows a route through pretty much the whole of central Durban, taking in the Victoria Street Market, Francis Farewell Square, the beachfront, the Berea, Florida Road, Mitchell Park, Morningside, the Cube viewpoint, Wilson’s Wharf and the city centre.
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“The Ricksha Bus driver almost hugged us he was so grateful. He said he has been so embarrassed to bring visitors to the Cube and now feels he can do it with pride once more,” added James.
Jurgen Kurz from Clifton School said, “Clifton’s involvement in restoring and maintaining The Cube benefits the environment through the planting of indigenous plants which attract and support local insect and animal life. Secondly, through litter drives to clean up the area, members of the public will see that this area is monitored and valued as a space for the whole community to enjoy. With our Clifton boys being actively involved in this project, they are invested in the success of the work they are carrying out, seeing the reality of the issue we are navigating in our current South African society and learning how to be a part of the solution.”
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