‘Operation Khuculula AbaQulusi’ kicks off – Municipality launches massive ‘clean up’ campaign in AbaQulusi
The teams spent the day painting roadmarkings outside several schools around Vryheid to ensure the safety of schoolgoing children on the roads, as well as cutting the grass in overgrown areas in Bhekuzulu and Mondlo and planting trees. The operation will continue in Louwsburg and Vryheid and will be ongoing until AbaQulusi is restored to its former glory, according to Councillor Khumalo.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Challenge and controversy are certainly two things that have hung like a dark cloud over AbaQulusi Municipality in recent times, with several issues testing the community’s confidence in the prowess and competence of those in power.
One of the primary predicaments that AbaQulusi is currently facing is the financial crisis the municipality now finds itself in. The harsh reality, according to those in the know, is that “there is no money” at AbaQulusi Municipality. The mayor himself has uttered the phrase “cash-strapped” when referring to municipal money matters.
Despite this disturbing dilemma, a glimmer of hope has begun to shine through the looming dark cloud as, bit by bit, the town is starting to show subtle signs of improvement.
Residents may have noticed the sudden decline in the number of unrepaired potholes, as well as a somewhat brighter view of some of the streets that those potholes once plagued, thanks to the gradual repairs on previously faulty streetlights.
“The safety of the community is very important to us,” stated AbaQulusi Municipality Speaker, Councillor Michael Khumalo.
Khumalo expressed his concern and added that he hopes that the restoration of water to the town will be a smooth and swift process, as he strongly believes that the safety of residents who collect water from the water points at night is compromised by the lack of sufficient lighting.
The safety issue was brought under the spotlight again as Khumalo recounted an incident where a woman was raped last week in Bhekuzulu. Her assailant was able to conceal the crime due to long grass in the area providing adequate cover for the rapist to execute the nefarious act.
“It’s a safety issue,” asserted the Speaker. “We don’t want to see our people suffer.”
On March 29, municipal staff from every department united for the launch of a massive campaign to clean up the town in ‘Operation Khuculula AbaQulusi’ which has been implemented to eradicate the adverse results of several years of apparent neglect and disregard for the preservation of AbaQulusi’s once proud status.
AbaQulusi Municipality’s current Mayor, Martin Mtshali, recently met with the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) with a plan to uplift the town by restoring many of the basic services which have been somewhat lacking until now. According to Councillor Khumalo, the DBSA has offered financial assistance to implement Mayor Mtshali’s proposed plan to take an active stand to clean up the town.
“The Mayor is a passionate and committed man,” stated the Speaker. “We are hoping that, through our ongoing efforts to uplift the town, we will be able to regain the trust of the community. Please be patient with us. We are trying… We would like to thank the Vryheid Herald for being our eyes and ears and we urge residents to inform us of any problems by contacting the directors of the relevant departments.”
The launch of ‘Operation Khuculula AbaQulusi’ kicked off on Wednesday morning with the handing over of newly-purchased equipment, 15 brushcutters and five lawnmowers, by Mayor Mtshali.
The teams spent the day painting road markings outside several schools around Vryheid to ensure the safety of schoolgoing children on the roads, as well as cutting the grass in overgrown areas in Bhekuzulu and Mondlo and planting trees. The operation will continue in Louwsburg and Vryheid and will be ongoing until AbaQulusi is restored to its former glory, according to Councillor Khumalo.
“We received donations from local businessmen and the Department of Environmental Affairs and were able to reward the staff, who worked tirelessly throughout the day from approximately 7:30am, for their efforts in laying the foundation for this initiative, with a late lunch and celebration in the Mark Street park,” stated Councillor Khumalo. “We would like to thank the sponsors and our employees for their commitment to this project.”
View the gallery of photos below…
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