After a shambles of a municipal budget meeting, a group of Evander residents embarked on a journey to take ownership of their town.
This came after realising that they can no longer rely on local government to get the state of the town back to what it was.
On the proposed budget, there was no allocation for development to Evander as a town and this is despite the town being in a dilapidated state and in desperate need of infrastructure development and maintenance.
This resulted in a group of ratepayers taking it upon themselves to begin the process of forming a ratepayers association. While the association is still being formed by actively recruiting members who are homeowners or ratepayers in the town, some have already set the ball rolling by cleaning the Parks, the CBD and other areas of the town.
The initiative which began a couple of weeks ago has seen huge results of cleaner parks and open fields. Due to lack of service delivery by GMM, these residents have taken it upon themselves to begin a cleaning support group.
This initiative which began a couple of weeks ago has seen huge results of cleaner parks, verges and open fields.
Because of the lack of service delivery by Govan Mbeki Municipality, these residents have taken it upon themselves to begin a cleaning support group.
Sign boards are also being erected in areas that are being cleaned up, stating that no dumping is allowed in these sites which are part of a community cleaning project and that anyone who dumps or loots will be prosecuted. Offenders will have to answer to the authorities and community.
“Our biggest challenge when we clean up an area is to find the next day that more refuse has been dumped.
“I don’t know how people’s mindsets work to think that it is okay to continue dumping their rubbish illegally,” said Mr Okkie Els (jnr).
Businesses have also jumped on board and are assisting with machinery to remove building rubble that has been dumped.
“The sites we are cleaning have poles with boards that sponsored. If people are caught discarding of their refuse and rubble, they will need to answer not only to law enforcement but to the community.
“Their punishment will be to do clean-up community service. We have received many photos of people dumping refuse from their vehicles and trucks. These images are sent to our ward councilor who in return will report to law-enforcement for charges to be opened.”
“We need to come together. We need all leaders and wards to stand together. The community must begin looking after one another,” said Mr Els.
There has been a good response from community and businesses supporting this initiative, however more community support and manpower are needed.
Donations of gloves, refuse bags, money, manpower, vehicles and machinery to remove rubble and refuse from the community and businesses are what makes this project possible.
“GMM are doing nothing for this town. Our street lights are not working, we have sewage spills and our roads are bad. This town is falling apart.
“We are not here to help the municipality. We are here doing this because the municipality is not doing the work they are paid to do,” said Mr Els.
They are concerned that Evander has no operational dumping site.
According to Mr Els, the closest dumping sites are Kinross and Secunda.
“We urgently need GMM to appoint a dumping site. We are having this internal fight because people are dumping their stuff, but where else must they go?” he asked.
Mr Els said people would not be dumping their refuse if GMM collected it on schedule, and the illegal dumping of building rubble would decrease if there was a closer dumping site for residents and businesses to use.
DA-councillor, Ms Estelle Swart said this initiative is a positive and lasting way to keep Evander clean.
“I am excited for what is happening in our little town. It is high time that something is happening,” said Ms Swart.
She said in her years as councillor, she has tried on many occasions to get the community involved in cleanup projects but it never worked out due to the lack of funding and no community involvement.
“I have the law-enforcement on-board,” she said.
Ms Swart asked that when the public sees people dumping illegally, to take a photo of the vehicle and its registration number.
These images and details must be sent to her so that she can hand the matter over to the relevant authorities.
An Evander Ratepayers Association WhatsApp group has been formed. Here residents can volunteer their time and help in cleaning up or donating funds.
The group also shares images of areas that have been cleaned up and where and when the next clean-up takes place. You can also share images and information on illegal dumping happening in your area.
To report illegal dumping contact Cllr Swart at 083 652 7727. To make a financial contribution towards the project contact Ms Roshini Jagadis at 081 799 5479 or Mr Johanny Jagadis at 081 792 9993.
WhatsApp Mr Okkie Els Junior at 082 774 7718 or Mr Corrie Badenhorst at 066 274 5446 to join the RPA WhatsApp group.
Visit their Facebook page at Evander Ratepayers Association – @Evanderratepayers or their website at https://www.evander.web.za
You can also send an email to admin@evander.web.za.
