Local NGOs send well wishes to residents for the festive season
“Residents can assist by cleaning up their mess and teaching their children good practices.”
NGOs Kool 2B South African and Soulbent Project have sent their Christmas/New Year well wishes to residents and recommitted themselves to continue serving the community for years to come.
Soulbent hosts clean-ups every weekday around Pretoria West and has identified Saulsville as the dirtiest area in the west in the over 220 clean-ups the organisation has completed this year.
“The year was great, as our aim was to reach all the illegal dumpsites in our area and next year we hope to expand to other areas in Gauteng,” said co-founder Mashudu Makhado.
The project was founded in 2008 by siblings Mashudu and Millicent Makhado and aims to preserve the local environment by addressing the rampant pollution around local areas and rivers.
“Residents can assist with cleaning up their mess, they must teach their children about littering. Let’s say no to illegal dumping,” said Mashudu.
Some of the unfortunate trends that the NGO noticed include the discarding of carcasses in plastic bags with its 63 volunteers claiming to have come across many dead cats and dogs during the year.
The NGO encouraged residents to dispose of their waste through the appropriate channels, not illegal ones.
“The year was up and down for us, cleaning the Moganwe River, which was heavily polluted. We’d like to thank our volunteers for all the efforts they made and hope that investors out there will support us so they can enjoy their festive season as well,” Mashudu continued.
Soulbent is also looking for anyone who is willing to donate food parcels to its volunteers and encourages residents to take care of the area during the festive season.
Kool 2B South African was launched on July 29 at Freedom Park, Salvokop to commemorate Mandela month. It had been in the works since August 2009 in Mahikeng.
Some of the highlights for the year include welcoming Spring and Heritage Month at Saint Ann primary school in Atteridgeville on September 8 with a flag march. The NGO plans to conduct these flag marches across the country. The NGO also planted a flag tree while commemorating top academic performers at the school a month later.
It said it hoped this practice will spread to other schools to ignite the patriotic fire in young learners.
The NGO also launched its national seasonal clean-up initiative with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment this year. Kool 2B South African introduced the Social Relief International Programme to assist vulnerable members of society alongside a partner.
Most recently, the NGO has been on a trophy unveiling tour showcasing the McCarthy Toyota Hatfield Kool 2B South African Matrics Glory Floating Flag Trophies which will commemorate Tshwane’s top performing matriculants on January 19, 2023.
So far the organisation has visited the education department, Toyota Hatfield and Loftus stadium.
President and founder of Kool 2B South African, Khaya “Kool” Seoketsa said they aim to keep their momentum going leading into 2023, and wishes all a safe and enjoyable festive season.
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