Locals volunteers to clean the streets
Our plan is to protect and preserve the envitonment for future generations
LONGTILL – Seven members of Mapodile Peer Educators (MPE) realised that their surroundings were dirty and unhygienic and voluntarily decided to embark on a cleaning spree to tidy their community.
On August 24, the group gathered local kids from as young as five and adults to make Eerstegeluk spotless. They first assembled at Mapodile Thusong Centre at 08:00. More than 50 community members joined in the effort.
“Our aim is to attain a clean, safe and healthy environment; we hate to see our community engulfed by dirt. It hurts to see young children playing in the filthy streets. There are bottles on the streets that can injure the kids.
We wish to collect all the litter around the clinic, churches and the community halls.
“Our plan is to protect and preserve the environment for future generations,” said Mr Collen Magane founder and coach of the group.
Members of ground breakers Lovelife were also present at the cleaning campaign, they told Steelburger/Lydenburg news that they invite every one to join in the campaign.
“If more youth join in cleaning the streets and avoid throwing beer bottles randomly, we can have a better environment. Disease will also be curbed.” said Nomsa Thabang of Lovelife.
Mapodile Thusong centre provided the cleaners with 40 pairs of protective gloves, 30 disposable dust respiratory masks and 200 refuse bags. Other business that sponsored the campaign were Pick N Pay (Steelpoort), local business man Mr Solomon Magashule, Dado tuck-shop, and Community Work Programme (CWP). MPE will also organise a road and safety campaign next month (September).
Magane concluded by pleading with the community to avoid throwing their waste, but instead use refuse bags.
Meanwhile Riba Cross residents have also initiated a similar campaign, it’s called the Bopaki waist management and is under the tutelage of Mr Tshepo Mashoeu.
The team comprises of more than ten members. They also collect waist material in their community of ward four, five and 19.
Mashoeu told this reporter that they sometimes struggle with refuse bags and transport to take the rubbish to the dumping site, which is miles away from the community.
“We previously used an old jalopy but it broke down, now we always rely on borrowed cars. In cleaning the streets, we aim to eradicate diseases and also keep the jobless youth busy”
He urged for sponsors to come forward in donating them refuse bags, gloves, work suits and provide them with transport for picking the dirt.
