Edleen residents lead clean-up drive to tackle crime and restore safety

Armed with lawnmowers and gardening tools, Edleen residents recently gathered at the Edleen circle to clean up and transform their neighbourhood.

This followed a grass-cutting initiative by the municipality that residents felt was incomplete, as it left the area untidy and overgrown in parts.

Willem du Plessis, chairperson of Norkem Park CPF Sector 1, said the clean-up was prompted by concerns over safety, as the long grass and hidden spots had become a haven for crime.

“About a month ago, we found a young woman, around 22 or 23, in a state of confusion, unable to remember her name or where she lived. She had been in the long grass where she was hidden from view. It wasn’t safe,” Du Plessis shared.

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While the City of Ekurhuleni had cut the grass, Du Plessis said it was not to the level the community needed for safety and aesthetic appeal.

“If the grass is cut short, it already deters crime. But if we keep it clean and maintained, people will feel safe again,” he said.

The initiative, supported by the CPF, residents and Hi-Max Security, aimed not only to beautify the neighbourhood but also to reduce crime by removing potential hiding spots for criminals and stashes for drugs.

“If the area is nice and clean, there’s no place to hide illegal items, which helps prevent drug distribution, especially to the youth,” Du Plessis explained.

Despite the cold weather on the morning of the clean-up, residents turned out to support the initiative.

Du Plessis encouraged more community members to get involved, noting that with more hands, such projects could become routine and sustainable.

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“If we get the community involved, the difficult task will become easy. We can keep our neighbourhood looking good every day,” he said, thanking residents, CPF members and Hi-Max Security for their participation.

Hi-Max Security COO, Peter Jordaan, said the CPF approached them to partner on the clean-up initiative, and they plan to continue supporting these efforts every second weekend in different parks across Kempton Park.

“We’ve seen these areas being neglected, and we want to help make them clean and safe for the community,” Jordaan said, adding that Hi-Max employees joined in the clean-up while on duty, with no financial challenges faced in supporting the initiative.

“It’s important for us to give back to the community that supports our business. We don’t just want to safeguard the community; we want to be part of it,” Jordaan said, inviting residents to join future clean-up initiatives.

Resident Sonja Hollander, who has lived in Edleen her entire life, described the project as an opportunity to give back and serve.

“For us, it’s about being the hands and feet of Jesus and giving back to the community. I feel blessed to be a blessing to others, and it’s wonderful to see our area becoming clean and green again,” Hollander shared.

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“She encouraged other residents to take initiative, saying, “If you want to see a difference, make a difference, and let change start with you.”

Pitso Chaane, a CPF Sector 1 member and Edleen resident, also joined the clean-up, sharing that it felt like the right thing to do.

“There were no challenges because everyone worked together to ensure the clean-up went smoothly. We want to restore our neighbourhood to the vibrant area it used to be,” Chaane said.

The community plans to continue these clean-up projects, focusing on fostering a safe, clean, and united neighbourhood for all who live in Edleen.