North group committed to changing local schools, community
Soshanguve residents have dedicated their time to maintaining two schools in the area.
Fifteen unemployed Soshanguve Block F residents have committed themselves to maintaining local schools and fighting crime in the community.
The group of 15 has so far worked on Ntsha-Peu Primary School and Lethabong Secondary School, both in Block F.
Amos Mahlangu, who started the group, said he was not happy with the state of schools, so he organised residents into a group of volunteers to keep schools clean.
“A lot of people would dump their waste all over and I was afraid that it would end up causing health problems for residents and learners. I decided to ask some of the residents I live with, to come and help. As we saw that the community was suffering, we sat down and talked about the issues we are facing,” explained Mahlangu.
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“This thing started last year, where we would see people dumping waste near the schools, so we started cleaning schools,” he added.
Mahlangu said when they started they would only repair damaged fences and repaint classrooms.
“Now we also clean the schools and the streets in our community and patrol during the night.”
Patroller Funny Kutumela said that since they started, crime has decreased.
“There was a lot of crime before, and we would call the police but they would take time to arrive. So we decided that it would be better if we intervene as the community.
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There are whistles which are blown if someone breaks in so we will know that help is needed,” said Kutumela.
Another patroller, Michael Mazibuko, said he volunteered to keep himself busy and he enjoyed helping.
“Sitting around and doing nothing makes one go crazy sometimes. That is why I decided to join others to volunteer and clean our community. We were part of the people who painted Ntsha Peu Primary and Lethabong Secondary on Mandela Day. We also cut some of the trees in Lethabong,” said Mazibuko.
“We just have challenges where we do not have a place to throw the waste after cleaning. Sometimes when there are school projects which pay, teachers from both schools call us first,” he added.
For more information about the programme, Lubbe can be contacted on alicelubbe@telkomsa.net.
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