Last week I received a letter from a Durban resident who regularly drives through our neck of the woods.
Stanley Munsamy declared that Shakaskraal “must be the cleanest town on the R102.”

“Congratulations to the people of Shakaskraal for this wonderful effort. Other small towns can learn from this community,” he wrote.

Now, that is quite a statement. And it is not the type of letter that usually crosses my desk. Mostly, I get complaints. Granted, from potholes to streetlights, the residents of KwaDukuza have a fair amount to complain about. Putting the spotlight on areas of neglect to light a fire under those responsible is one of the perks of the job.

But I much prefer shining a light on people who defy the norm we have come to expect – corruption and a shoddy work ethic.

So I took a drive because I had to see it for myself. And Stanley was not wrong.

The buildings could use some TLC and I had to be careful not to do an Alice in Wonderland trick and fall down one of two large manholes missing their covers. But it certainly is swept clean. And the effect is startling.

Back in 2022, we reported on the start of a public-private partnership between Dolphin Coast Waste Management (DCWM) and KwaDukuza municipality.

The main roads from Shakaskraal to Compensation, and into Ballito and Salt Rock, would be swept and cleaned of litter.

Managing the work is an all-women power team mentored by DCWM, which later went solo as Ballito Sweepers, a small local enterprise run by Tina Chamane and Khethiwe Mhlongo.

Residents immediately noticed the impact this determined group was making.

But it is fairly easy to start strong. Keeping at it day after day, week after week, that is an entirely different story. Only time separates meaningful projects from empty promises.

Almost four years later, the results are easy to see. Yes, you will still spot rubbish along the road – thanks to road users who treat the streets like rubbish bins. This “can’t be bothered to find a bin” attitude makes me see red.

But on Monday, I drove from Manor Estates to Shakaskraal and counted six sweepers collecting rubbish and sweeping roads. It is a largely thankless – and risky – job and they were grafting.

I spoke to Tina Chamane who confirmed the group has grown from 34 to 42 staff members, cleaning streets seven days a week. Working alongside the Ballito Urban Improvement Precinct, they rotate around the main routes and even branch off to do voluntary community work. It was clear that this company takes real pride in going the extra mile.

And there is a reason clean streets matter.

The well-known “broken windows theory” suggests visible neglect encourages further disorder and makes communities feel uncared for. Dirty, neglected environments contribute to stress, hopelessness and social disengagement.

Clean streets, on the other hand, communicate value. They say the place I live in is worth caring for and I can feel proud of my community.

This project is clearly working and stands in stark contrast to the filth littering the northern parts of KwaDukuza.

Come on, KwaDukuza municipality – why not back this team and push for funding to extend its reach across the entire municipality? This would be money well spent.

We asked our readers whether they had noticed the difference:

Themba Bhibha: Those people know what they doing. Shakaskraal is not the same anymore. Well done to whoever came with that idea.

Sasha Delaney: Shakaskraal is super clean, incredible well done.

Trish Thornton-Dibb: Shakaskraal is always neat and clean.

Ayabonga Zwane: Not to mention Leonora Drive, Ocean Drive and Compensation Beach Road. They are doing a spectacular job