Clean-up group in Silverton appeals for support
The clean-up group continues to clean dirty corners, nature conservation areas, parks and the pedestrian bridge.
Community clean-up group in Silverton appeals for sponsorship and volunteers in order to continue keeping the area clean and safe.
The group continues to clean dirty corners, nature conservation areas, parks and the pedestrian bridge used by learners and residents.
The group comprises the sparkling clean Silverton and the Blue Bridge projects, and cleans up every Tuesday and Thursdays.
Organiser Marietjie van Deventer, who has been a resident of Silverton since 1974, said she organised the clean-up in 2021 after realising that criminals used the cover of long grass to rob and assault people.
“In 2021, crime started getting out of hand and people got hurt in the process. I immediately started thinking of ways to prevent this instead of just sitting back.”
Van Deventer said she thought of starting something that would change the area for good such as cleaning up, cutting down trees and branches as criminals do not like clean an organised areas.
“We managed to remove 21 vagrants from the park who used to sort waste at the park. We fixed and put up new fences and the park has gates now. This was the biggest challenge of my life,” she said.
Van Deventer said the group needs more residents to get involved in the clean-up, adding “we need all the help we can get to enable us to have an area where we can relax with our children, enjoy nature, be safe”.
“We are urgently in need of contributions towards the salaries of the workers. We appeal to businesses and whoever can contribute to do so for the benefit of each and every community member and resident of Silverton,” she said.
“We cannot do this on our own we need your help and we can no longer sit back and watch our beautiful nature conservation area misused and neglected.”
Van Deventer said so far some locals and businesses have donated money and tools.
“Community members also donated money to the salaries of the workers,” she said.
However more is needed.
Van Deventer said in October 2021, she invited residents to the bridge next to Meyerspark bird sanctuary.
“We came together and combined ideas to clean the bridge and its surrounding as thieves used [it] to target residents and learners.”
She said the bridge plays a very important role in the communities of Silverton and Meyerspark.
“It was built in 1983. Silverton high school learners walk across it daily to and from school.”
She said sponsors also came on board and last year a camera was installed on one side of the bridge for extra safety monitoring.
“We are still in the planning phase of installing cameras we plan on both sides of the bridge,” she said adding that that was in collaboration with the Community Patrol Associations (CPA).
We are planning a huge camera project for the entire Silverton. The CPA already installed six cameras on the main roads. We urgently need sponsors to finance our the project.”
She expressed her gratitude to the sponsors and the community for supporting the crusade.
Anyone willing to help or donate can contact Marietjie van Deventer on 083 442 4661.
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