Locals get their hands dirty to clean our town

BARBERTON – Barberton is a town that once boasted the proud title of Town of the Year. During recent times, however, the streets have become littered with rubbish and the upkeep of historical sites is almost non-existent. Together with the vandalism, many places in Barberton have become an eyesore.

Although it takes some effort and planning, there are worthy motives for starting a clean-up campaign. Apart from just getting rid of the rubbish, weeding of flowerbeds and restoration of places of historical interest, clean-up campaigns bring about a feeling of pride in a community. It creates a good impression for visitors who frequent our town. In places where mega clean-up campaigns have been done, a drop in crime was registered as criminals ran out of hideouts. All in all, a clean, neat town makes residents feel good about themselves and the place they call home.

Barberton Ford & Mazda, recently started a community-outreach programme in conjunction with Pumlas Gardening and Landscaping, with the main objective of beautifying the town. These guys are taking the bull by the horns and throughout the year, Barbertonians will see a gradual transformation in the town’s appearance.

Dealer principal, Jean Coetzee, said they plan to conduct this campaign throughout town and especially at historical locations.
He requested other local businesses to get involved in order to bring about positive change in the community. “Even if you can’t conduct a clean-up campaign, you can still do your bit by not littering,” he said.
Barberton Times wanted to know from Jean why they had decided on tidying the town instead of another community service, but we already knew the answer, “Cause that’s the way we roll.”