Efforts by the metro to make every day a Mandela Day were given a major boost on Wednesday, with the launch of a month-long Citizen Responsibility Campaign (CRC), in Dukathole.
The launch saw over 1 500 community members endorsing the drive.
Launched under the theme “Making Ekurhuleni a clean place to live in”, the campaign is aimed at mobilising communities to take responsibility for keeping their environment clean.
The municipality, led by the Speaker of council, Clr Patricia Kumalo, members of the Ekurhuleni legislature and community members, accompanied by the Trek4Mandela team who have just returned from conquering Mount Kilimanjaro for Madiba, rolled up their sleeves and dug into the dirt to rid Dukathole of its illegal dumping spots.
Jane Ramushi, a community member who, together with her neighbours, took part in the clean-up campaign, acknowledged that the only way areas like Dukathole can be clean is if “we, as community members, play an active role in keeping them that way”.
“There could not have been a better way to make every day a Mandela Day than by launching the Citizen Responsibility Campaign,” said Lucky Kwashe who, although not a resident of Dukathole, came to support the initiative.
“This is in line with the call Madiba made when he said it is in our hands to make a difference.
“I am here to make my contribution and would like to urge residents to join in.”
The CRC campaign is part of a drive initiated by the Gauteng Speakers Forum, led by the Provincial Legislature Speaker (Hon) Lindiwe Maseko, aimed at “Making Gauteng a clean place to live in”.
The programme was launched during Mandela Month, in honour of former President Nelson Mandela.
“The legislature is about public participation and it is important that citizens work hand-in-hand with us and take responsibility for their environment, hence we launched the local leg of the campaign under the theme ‘Making Ekurhuleni a clean place to live in’,” said Kumalo, adding that this happens in the wake of the metro having recently been named South Africa’s Greenest City.
Following the cleaning of Dukathole, community leaders signed a pledge on behalf of residents, committing them to working towards inculcating a culture of civic education and responsibility, caring and preserving the Ekurhuleni environment and its resources, among other things.
The campaign will be rolled out to Daveyton, Katlehong and Tembisa throughout the month of August.
