#WASH programme cleans up two illegal dumping sites
The HPP plans to conduct another clean-up campaign in Freedom Park, Soweto, with the support of the Gauteng Department of Health and Pikitup.
Newly formed Humana People to People‘s #WASH programme collaborated with the Zandspruit community, the Gauteng Department of Health and Pikitup on a clean-up campaign called ‘taking care of our environment’.
Due to scarcity of water and insufficient sanitary facilities in Zandspruit’s highly populated region, residents are constantly protesting against housing and sanitation issues. The community faces a number of issues as a result of congestion, pollution, and poor waste management.
Humana People to People (HPP) and Pikitup teamed up, identified and cleaned up two hazardous illegal dumping sites on Beyers Naudé Drive.
Nondumiso Mntuyedwa, HPP PR officer, explained that despite the overwhelming volume of rubbish, Beyer’s Naude Drive was cleaned and community members made a promise to report any illegal dumping.
“After the clean-up, we went back and discussed a way forward in solving the issue at hand. A major problem is illegal dumping, which damages ecosystems and creates illnesses in communities. Different topics were discussed, including what residents can do to keep the environment clean and stop illegal dumping, and also how the city can assist the community.”
HPP recently launched the #WASH programme in Zandspruit’s informal settlement in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation.
The objective is to provide water, sanitation and electricity to the disadvantaged.
“Our goal is to develop a relationship with the Department of Health and Pikitup to ensure that dumping spots are cleaned regularly, and to train youth to take care of recycling. We will continue to mobilise the community to be involved in this initiative,” added Mntuyedwa.
Ward 114 councillor David Mangena supported the campaign. He thanked the stakeholders involved for providing the area with a valuable programme and pleaded with the community to cooperate during the implementation phase so that the partnership could attract other partners in the area.
“This opportunity belongs to the community, so we need to ensure this collaboration yields great results that will put the area on the map for investors and financiers. The region is known as one of the most dangerous areas in Johannesburg, but we are changing that narrative so that it becomes the safest and most developed community in the city,” said Mangena.
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