‘Clean’ start to uniting community of Durban North
Reddy is planning a bigger Mandela Day event in Durban North next year which will include painting, planting, and beautifying even more public spaces.
DURBAN North came alive with purpose and pride this Mandela Day as more than 400 residents, businesses, and organisations rolled up their sleeves to take part in a large-scale community clean-up initiative.
The clean-up effort stretched from Rinaldo Park to Whynotte Park, with volunteers covering nearly every street and park in the area before rain brought the day to a close.
Organised by Sam Reddy and driven by the residents’ and ratepayers’ associations of Durban North, Glen Hills and Glen Anil, the clean-up effort saw two main stations set up where volunteers gathered, cleaned, and restored public spaces across the northern suburbs.
Over 300 bags of rubbish were collected, including garden refuse, illegal dumping, scrap material; even broken toilets and abandoned toys found in remote spots.
“This event was really special because it brought our community together in a way we’ve never seen before. We had volunteers from every corner of Durban North — from families to schools, to business owners and local stakeholders,” said Reddy.
Among the many heroes of the day were students from Northwood Boys’ High who tackled some of the more challenging dump sites. Local sponsors and partners also played a crucial role in the event’s success.
Bluff Meats Supply was the major sponsor, providing food for the braai and even restocking when supplies ran out due to the overwhelming turnout.
Blue Security ensured safety and patrols, while the North Durban Leos handled registration. Round Table Durban 2 sponsored materials and managed the braai and Lions of North Durban was also a sponsor. Additional support came from Oasis Water and OK Foods Rinaldo Road.
“We had so many local businesses pitch in that it was overwhelming in the best way. We were incredibly honoured to have representatives from the US Consulate join in and dedicate their 67 minutes to uplifting our community. We hope to make the Mandela Day clean-up an annual tradition but we want to go beyond cleaning. We’re looking at painting, planting, and beautifying even more of our public spaces,” said Reddy.
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