New nonprofit patches potholes, installs cameras across Phalaborwa

Backed by 50 businesses and 75 homeowners, Phalaborwa First is fixing roads and curbing crime without municipal funding.

6 hours ago

Tintswalo Shipalana 2 minutes read

Phalaborwa First workers repair a pothole in one of the town's streets.

PHALABORWA – A new nonprofit organisation, Phalaborwa First, is already making a visible difference in the local community since its founding in May.

The organisation was established by Ruan du Preez of Mica and Piet du Toit of Coastal Hire in Phalaborwa. So far, it has patched potholes in Kierieklapper and Grey streets and is now working on Tulbach Street. It has also installed 24/7 CCTV cameras at strategic points near electricity infrastructure such as substations.

Phalaborwa First co-founders Piet du Toit (left) and Ruan du Preez (right).

“Lending a hand,” not fighting municipality

Du Preez said the organisation’s main objective is to initiate, fund and execute structural, infrastructural and environmental improvements in the Phalaborwa area.

“We strive to beautify our town and take it back to a place where it used to be aesthetically beautiful and inviting to tourists. We are not a political party nor affiliated to any party, and we are not trying to fight against the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality; we are lending a hand,” he said.

Phalaborwa First currently has 50 corporate members, businesses in and around Phalaborwa that each contribute R1 500 a month, along with 75 individual homeowners who each pay R350 a month.

Funded entirely by members

Du Preez said all contributions go towards cameras, pothole-repair materials, painting, and paying the organisation’s nine pothole-repair workers and the cleaners who clean the town daily.

Workers paint kerbs as part of Phalaborwa First’s beautification efforts.

The organisation relies solely on member contributions and has no major funders.

About 11 cameras will be installed within the next week.

Cable theft down sharply since cameras installed

“In the past two months, we only had one cable theft, at a place where we had not installed cameras. This is a big breakthrough compared to before the cameras were installed, when cable theft was a weekly occurrence, leaving residents without power for days. Our participation is also helping the municipality save on the costs of constantly replacing stolen electricity cables,” he added.

One of the 24/7 CCTV cameras installed by Phalaborwa First.

Edwin Simpson and Berno van Dyk with equipment used by Phalaborwa First for street-cleaning operations.

Fundraiser planned for September

On Friday, September 11, Phalaborwa First will host a fundraising event at Phalaborwa Laerskool (Red School), featuring Demi-Lee Moore, with all proceeds going towards pothole repairs and cameras.

Du Preez said the organisation will continue working to beautify Phalaborwa and is calling on more residents to join and to attend the September fundraiser.

For more information, contact 082 776 3668, 076 094 7310 or 083 627 2892.

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6 hours ago

Tintswalo Shipalana 2 minutes read

Emelda Tintswalo Shipalana

Tintswalo Shipalana, a journalist for the Letaba Herald, has been in the media industry for over a decade. She started her journey in radio, but ended up in print which is her first love. She joined the Herald newspaper as a cadet in 2016, where she graduated with a journalism qualification from the Caxton Training Academy. She also has a qualification in Feature Writing from the University of Cape Town and a Media Management qualification from Wits University. She is completing her BA Communication Science degree with UNISA. She sleeps well at night knowing she is a voice to the voiceless and her work contributes to promoting local talent, businesses and service delivery. Her love for her community keeps her working hard every day.