The Hands of Maraisburg volunteers took action to help a disabled resident regain access to healthcare, food, and church after months of being effectively cut off by an overgrown pavement.

The clean-up took place on Saturday, May 30, along Albertina Sisulu Road between Maraisburg and Bosmont, where thick grass, bushes, and weeds had overtaken a section of pavement, making it impossible for wheelchair user Bernadette Francois (also known as Berni) to travel safely.

According to Berni, who relies on her wheelchair to move between the two communities, the neglected pathway had prevented her from accessing essential services for nearly three months.

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“I have little to no access to transport and so have to drive myself from Maraisburg to Bosmont to access healthcare, church, food and other necessities,” she said.

“The overgrown grass, bushes and weeds have been this bad since February, and I have not been able to do any of these things for three months.”

Berni also expressed frustration over what she described as a lack of routine maintenance on public infrastructure.

“The pavement is already difficult to navigate because of manhole covers sticking out of the ground and large patches of tar creating mini hills. Why do residents have to report something like grass cutting in a public area? Shouldn’t it be maintained routinely?” she asked.

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Moved by her situation, Hands of Maraisburg mobilised a team of volunteers to clear the route and restore accessibility.

Despite being a small team of just nine volunteers, the group successfully transformed the overgrown pathway in a single day.

Hands of Maraisburg is a group of residents who have, over the past year, transformed and beautified the area with their clean-up operations. They are also involved in multiple service delivery issues, ensuring that issues are being escalated.

“We did the clean-up because everyone deserves safe and dignified access to their home and community,” said a member of the group, Fazlin Samodien.

“We made it easier and safer for Bernie to get to church and move around. It was a small act of kindness that showed what can be achieved when a community comes together to help someone in need.”

Volunteers said Berni’s presence throughout the day motivated them as they worked.

“A special thank you to Berni, who came out to cheer us on throughout the day. Her encouragement and smiles kept us going,” said the group.

The organisation hopes the work will not only improve Berni’s quality of life but also draw attention to the importance of maintaining public spaces for people with disabilities.

“We hope her trip to church will be much easier and more enjoyable. Now we hope the council and city parks will keep the pathway clean and maintained so that she can continue to access it with ease and dignity.”

For Berni, the newly cleared pathway represents more than just a route between two suburbs – it is a restored connection to essential services, independence and community life.