Members of the Kinross Community Forum started cleaning up their town. This forum, formerly known as the Workers’ Forum, helped to give unemployed people skills and to find jobs for them.
One problem the forum experiences is jobs are given to people who are not local. The chairperson of the forum, Andries (Boeta) Noorman, said they had meetings with the municipality and big companies in the area, who agreed they would contact the forum first if they needed workers.
However, this does not always happen. Kinross’ condition bothered Noorman – so much that he and the rest of the group started to do something about it six weeks ago.
“It became quiet at our forum with jobs after the shutdown, so we began a new project. We began by picking up bottles on the streets and then giving attention to the gardens on the centre island in the main street,” said Noorman.
The group of six people actively cleaning up the town eventually wants to reach out to Evander and Kinross.
“We are all unemployed and do this project as volunteers, but we need sponsorship from the community and businesses,” said Noorman.
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A few businesses bought into this initiative and sponsored them for fuel, water and lunch while working. They kicked off with this project at the Shell filling station, which gave them fuel and water, Elvis Butchery sponsored lunch, Pastor Ricardo van Rooi provided his bakkie to remove the refuse they collected and Garden Terrace in Secunda sponsored flowers to plant on the centre island.
Kinross Motors, Ganis Motors and Fazal Warehouse and Mini Market also donated. The group thanked the businesses and the community who had already sponsored something. They urged businesses to get involved.
“We need people who want to see a change in their town. Many people want to complain but do not want to walk the extra mile and do something positive in our town,” said Noorman.
“Some guys involved in this project were on the streets and addicted to drugs; now they do not have time to focus on their addictions but contribute to a good cause by cleaning our town.”
The group would appreciate any sponsor or donation, even cold drinks, water or lunch while working in the warm sun.
“If businesses or the community can sponsor food hampers, we would appreciate it. Then these guys can take something home every Friday to give to their families and show what they worked for during the week,” said Noorman.
