Community Heroes, together with local businesses and security companies, gathered in Bromhof to clean and secure the post box site, which had become rundown and unsafe.

Nikki Belt, who helped organise the clean-up, said the idea came about after residents kept raising concerns about the state of the area on various community platforms. She said that Alison Laxton, a Community Heroes member, brought the issue to her attention. “Alison saw everybody on the councillor groups and the crime groups and in Community Heroes moaning about the state of this area,” said Belt.

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She said the team wanted to find a practical solution, especially since children walk past the area regularly. “Alison came to me and she said this is what she wants done and we pulled a plan together,” said Belt.

She said several organisations came together to help, including Meridian, Action SA, SB Security, and Aqua. Del Fornos also contributed by supplying pizza for those on site.

Belt said the initiative was about more than just cleaning. “It’s just been nice for more people wanting to not only clean but secure places,” she said. She added that the plan included placing barbed wire around the base of the post boxes and locking them, with keys given to residents who need access.

Looking ahead, Belt said the goal is to expand the project across Bromhof one section at a time until the whole neighbourhood looks presentable.

She explained that keeping an area clean makes it easier to spot anything that does not belong. “If we get it clean, it’s easier to keep it clean,” said Belt. “When it’s clean, if something doesn’t belong, it sticks out.” She said she believes prevention works better than trying to fix problems after they happen.

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Resident Shane van der Westhuizen, said, “We’re doing a bit of a clean up here of the post boxes in Bromhof that have been taken over by vagrants,” he said. He said the community needed to work together to reclaim the space. “Unfortunately, we just need to, as a community, stand up and work together to try to clean up and take back our community,” said Van der Westhuizen.

He confirmed that security companies would help keep the post boxes protected going forward. Residents who need access can contact SB Security to arrange for the boxes to be opened. He stressed that the goal is not to shut residents out but to prevent the area from being taken over again. “We don’t want to close it off. We just want to protect it; that it doesn’t get taken over again,” said Van der Westhuizen.

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