The Community Cleaners gathered early on October 4 to tackle a growing problem at Fairland koppie. They came prepared with gloves, hats, ready to take on another round of litter removal.

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Andre Swanepoel of the Community Cleaners explained what drives the group’s ongoing clean-ups. “We found that a lot of displaced individuals were sleeping here temporarily. In theory, it’s because they have nowhere else to go, but they make a huge amount of mess. We come here regularly just to clean up the rubbish,” he said.

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Swanepoel added that keeping the space clean has a direct impact on the wider area. “It has a huge effect on crime, and it affects property values. It’s based on the broken window principle — if you keep the area clean, you maintain property values, and it feels like a better place to look at.”

The challenges are constant. The koppie has been used as an open toilet, while alcohol bottles point to it being a popular drinking and party spot.

Despite this, the group sees real value in their efforts beyond just clearing litter. “Everyone standing here today is a resident, a taxpayer. It’s just a small fraction of our group, but we all worked well together,” Swanepoel said.

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