Westdene Dam gets its much-needed clean-up
WESTDENE – The Westdene-Sophiatown Residents Association chairperson added that although the clean-up was a success, there is still more to be done.
Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” This is a philosophy the residents of Westdene believe in.
On 12 October the Westdene-Sophiatown Residents Association (WSRA) and Sophiatown Neighbourhood Watch (SNW) hosted a clean-up campaign. Chairperson of the WSRA Dauw Steyn explained, “Most of the focus was at the Westdene Dam that needed an urgent clean. Residents, like the elderly, that could not make it to the dam helped by cleaning their pavements and around their properties.”
The long-term aim of this clean-up was to put residents at the forefront of keeping the community clean and beautiful. “If each resident and business owner takes responsibility for their pavement and just keeps that clean it already makes a huge difference.”
Steyn added that although the clean-up was a success, there is still more to be done. “A lot of the substation’s vegetation is overgrown and we will focus on that going forward. Businesses which do not maintain their pavements are also becoming a problem and creates the sense that the suburb and its residents do not care, which is what we need to tackle.”
The residents of Westdene have been reminded that cleaning doesn’t happen automatically and it does take time and effort to get a suburb clean. The WSRA and SNW are pleading with the community to continue to work together to keep this area clean and safe for all. Steyn extended his gratitude to all those who took part in the clean-up. “It was overwhelming to see that from the elderly to students to churches and even small kids getting involved and reclaiming their suburb to make it beautiful again.”
There will be another clean-up on 16 November and residents are invited to participate yet again. “We hope to see a lot more residents to take part in the clean-up and to take back our streets and beautify our areas. We are a united community that has always come out when needed and stood firm to make the suburbs work and we will continue to do so.”
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