Clean-up group steps up to clean dirty streets in Silverton

The Sparkling Clean Silverton group, joined by volunteers, have taken matters into their own hands by cleaning neglected streets and public spaces in Silverton.

Shocked by the deteriorating state of the suburb, they took to the streets to clean piles of rubbish littering corners, sidewalks, and public spaces.

According to Marietjie van Deventer, one of the organisers, the clean-up was sparked by growing frustration over the city’s poor service delivery.

“We cannot sit and watch our streets fall into disrepair. Almost every corner and public space is piled high with rubbish,” she said.

She said many homeless people and informal waste pickers contributed to the issue, collecting garbage and sorting it in the streets, leaving behind trash that is not valuable to them.

“Pretoria Road was filthy and messy. This is our main road. We could not tolerate it any longer,” she added.

She said with support from residents and local businesses, including Ronsard and the Uitkyk Team, the group managed to remove large volumes of waste.

“We are extremely grateful to those who donated their time and resources to restore Silverton to the beautiful area it once was,” Van Deventer said.

In addition to street clean-ups, the group has also targeted neglected pedestrian areas such as the blue bridge used by schoolchildren and residents.

Van Deventer described the bridge as a key area used by schoolchildren that cannot be neglected.

“If there is overgrown grass, it makes the bridge a hotspot for muggings and assaults. There’s a nature conservation area that has also been ignored for years. It’s become unsafe,” she said.

The group hosts monthly clean-ups and, thanks to donations, has also employed four people to assist with ongoing efforts.

“These clean-ups include removing invasive plants, cutting back overgrown trees, and clearing rubbish scattered by informal recyclers,” she explained.

She criticised Tshwane for shifting blame onto residents instead of addressing long-standing infrastructure and service failures.

“We are tired of carrying the burden for inefficiencies we didn’t cause. It’s time the metro is held accountable for its neglect and lack of transparency.”

She added that service delivery in Silverton remains “pathetic,” with no turnaround times met on reported issues.

She said the community also faces additional challenges, including a complete lack of functional streetlights.

“This darkness promotes crime. How can the city claim to protect infrastructure when it leaves its residents in danger every night?” she asked.

“Silverton ratepayers deserve better.”

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