Republiek Park gets a new lease on life

The community project was the idea of two Grade Eleven learners, Caitlin Keightley and Henri van Aswegen, from Witteberg High School in Bethlehem.

March 8, 2020

Lolo Madonsela 2 minutes read

The architects of the Republiek Park clean-up, Henri van Aswegen and Caitlin Keightley.

The community of Vryheid is making great strides in keeping local parks clean.
One of the notorious parks on Republiek Street was recently cleaned up by a group of determined residents, including youths and businesspeople.
According to Vicki Williams of Zulcrete Products, the community project was the idea of two Grade Eleven learners, Caitlin Keightley and Henri van Aswegen, from Witteberg High School in Bethlehem.
The pair are the current Mr and Miss Witteberg High School finalists, and part of the competition involved launching a new community project. Aware that municipalities sometimes don’t have enough funds to maintain and care for parks, Williams said the learners decided to try and get sponsors for a clean-up project. After cleaning the park at the corner of Small and Republiek Streets, they said they now knew the costs involved and could collect sponsorship to either continue maintaining the park or even move to another area.

Also read: Volunteers take clean-up campaign to the streets

Caitlin and Henri also believe the use of unskilled labour could create job opportunities.
To encourage companies to sponsor or assist with the project, the learners are planning to get permission to erect a board where sponsors’ names are displayed.
They thanked the following sponsors:
Turbomax Tool Hire – two lawnmowers to cut the grass; Piet Claassen – a new swing set, the use of his ladder, all his counselling and help throughout the project, and always being willing to help; Ithuba Maize Products – topsoil filling to level the illegal road and paint for the play equipment; Zulcrete Products – labour to clean the park and paint the play equipment; Vryheid Petroleum – an empty 210-litre drum for use as a dustbin; Ace Hardware – a bag of ready-mix concrete to use for planting the new signage; Sign Centre – erecting a Keep Vryheid Clean board; Magda Victor (Ward Councillor) – assisting with the logistics and getting permission to clean the park.
“A big problem we found at the park is the public using it as a car park, drinking area and for even more explicit activities. The community informed us that public intoxication until the early morning hours are a regular occurrences, as is drug abuse. The fact that the street light opposite the park does not work makes it a breeding ground for all kinds of situations,” added Williams.
Boet and Hilda Brecher from Joyland offered to take over the upkeep of the park going forward, and no vehicles have entered the park since Thursday’s clean-up, making it a safer place for children to play.
Cllr Viktor added, “I just want to pass on my greatest gratitude for the work done at the park, ensuring it is clean and safe for children to play.
“They did an amazing job.”