Community volunteers across Clubview and Lyttelton have taken to the streets to clear overgrown areas, waste and neglected public spaces, with more clean-ups planned to restore local surroundings.

Freedom Front Plus councillor Wesley Jacobs and community volunteers focused their September 26 clean-up on Clifton Avenue and Cantonments Road, clearing weeds, dirt and debris building up in road gutters.

Jacobs said clearing the gutters allows water to flow freely into stormwater drains, reducing the risk of flooding as the rainy season approaches.

“Nine volunteers joined the effort on Saturday, with the majority being young people. We need to get our youth more involved because the decisions they make and take today will affect them tomorrow,” he said. “We have the power as the next generation to shape our future.”

The volunteers removed weeds, dirt and debris, filling about eight yellow City of Tshwane bags. The metro supplied the bags, and Jacobs said he works with the municipality to arrange collection once clean-ups are completed.

Illegal recycling site cleared

A similar spirit was seen in Clubview after two AfriForum Centurion Neighbourhood Watch members discovered an illegal recycling site while walking their dogs.

André de Bruyn, of the AfriForum Centurion branch, said the open land at the corner of Wierda Road and Ashwood Drive contained plastic bags and bottles, paper, boxes, old tyres, glass bottles, newspapers and paper bags.

Volunteers and residents returned to the site on September 26 to clear the area.

“Five residents, together with other volunteers, took part and removed approximately 3.5 tonnes of material. The waste was taken to the AfriForum Centurion Depot, where it will be sorted before being sold,” he said.

De Bruyn said concerns about crime also motivated the clean-up, with some illegal recycling and dumping sites becoming associated with criminal activity.

“Our open spaces, parks and rivers are already disaster areas. We can prevent this and make our environment cleaner and safer [for] ourselves by starting to recycle.”

Several more streets have been identified for future clean-ups, with the intention of continuing the work one street at a time. “We will continue to ‘Restore, Rebuild and Reignite’ our community one street at a time,” he added.

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