The Community Cleaners gathered at the Fairland Koppie on October 4, gloves on and rubbish bags in hand, united by one goal – to restore their neighbourhood’s natural gem.

The clean-up, led by Community Cleaners founder André Swanepoel, is part of an ongoing effort to reclaim public spaces that have, over time, fallen into neglect. The idea behind their clean-up initiatives is simple: to take responsibility for the shared spaces that shape daily community life.

Read more: Community takes action to clean up illegal dumping in Sophiatown

Swanepoel highlighted that the koppie was home to a lot of displaced individuals sleeping temporarily. “They have nowhere else to go, but the problem is they make a huge amount of mess. Every week we come back regularly just to clean up the rubbish.”

He believes that keeping the area clean is not just about aesthetics, but about safety and community pride. “It has a huge effect on crime in the area, and it affects property values. It is based on the broken window principle: if you keep the area clean, you maintain property values, and it feels like a better area to live in.”

The koppie, despite its scenic beauty and sweeping views, has become a challenge to maintain. According to Swanepoel, the site is often used as a makeshift toilet and gathering spot for drinking. “There are no public toilets around, so unfortunately, they use it as one. We also find a lot of alcohol bottles. People go there and party; it is a big drinking spot.”

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Yet amid the frustration lies a sense of community. “Just look around here, these are all residents, all taxpayers. This is just a small fraction of our group. We work well together.”

While the work is ongoing, plans for the future are already taking shape. Swanepoel envisions a cleaner, safer and more inviting Fairland Koppie that residents can be proud of. “In the long term, we are looking to maybe develop the koppie in building extra pathways, benches, and viewing spots. From up top, it is a beautiful view; it is really a fantastic place.”

He added that the challenge was funding; it cost a lot of money to maintain the koppie. “But it is a plan for the future, to make it attractive for residents to come and enjoy.”

For now, though, the mission continues one rubbish bag at a time – a community proving that when neighbours come together, even the most neglected spaces can be brought back to life.

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