Danville to be cleaned next month

A clean-up operation is being planned for Danville next month.

Freedom Front Plus Pretoria West leader Ben Erasmus said the operation was planned for 14 September in response to complaints from the residents.

“We have received several complaints mainly about the conditions of the business area in Danville but also about the rest of the area.”

He said this had caused the group to decide to launch the clean-up operation.

He said they would gather at 08:00 in front of SPAR and travel into the area “in about 10 bakkies to create a bit of order”.

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He said they planned to pick up litter and mow the grass.

“We want to bring change to the community,” he said.

“And to do that we feel it is essential that we work together.”

Erasmus said he planned to drive around on the day with another resident Frik de Bruin, before the operation to identify problem areas.

“That way we will know exactly where to clean up and what we should focus on,” he said.

Erasmus said he planned to later tackle other residential areas.

“It does not help to complain all the time – we can make a difference ourselves,” he said.

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The condition of Danville, especially the business area, had become a source of anxiety for locals over the years.

“Litter is strewn everywhere and the area is dirty,” said a member of Community Reaction Unit, Joey Botes.

“What is really sad is the fact that this is the heart of Danville’s business area and it looks like this.”

“Residents are supposed to want to come here and do their shopping. It is a disgrace.”

Botes said criminals also used drugs in the area.

“The stench is terrible because they use parts of the sidewalk as a public bathroom.”

She said the reaction unit monitored the area on a regular basis.

UPDATE: Danville residents clean up ‘problematic’ alley

Community activist Eric Cordier said Danville Central was also in a terrible condition.

“Something must be done urgently,” he said.

“The drug users are also of great cause of concern to residents, especially the pedestrians that walk past there every day.”

A resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she was ashamed of living in the area.

“It does not help when the metro comes to clean because next week it will look exactly the same again,” the resident said.

“They [Metro] have tried everything in the past, but nothing seems to help.”

The resident said a plan of action was needed to secure the central parts of Danville.

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