Shovels, refuse bags, and rakes were the order of the day for a community clean-up at Organic Market informal settlement along Canning Road in Bramley.

Present at the clean-up were City of Johannesburg officials, which included Regional director for Region E Makgafela Thaba, MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene, along with Pikitup, Kew Action Group, and the Water Warriors.

Read more: Community unites to clean Norwood and Orange Grove parks for Mandela Day

Community leader Theo Lengwati said the clean-up was brought about by the visible lack of education around waste management in the area.

“This clean-up is not supposed to be a quick fix. The reason why we mobilised community members for the clean-up here today is that we want to start a culture of maintaining cleanliness in areas that we call home.”

Lengwati encouraged residents to report illegal dumping in the area through various community channels, such as WhatsApp groups or calling the relevant numbers at the City of Johannesburg that dealt with dumping.

Kunene added that community clean-up initiatives were necessary.

Also read: Praboa lead first clean-up of 5th Avenue Park and Braamfontein Spruit

“I appreciate the partnership created for today’s clean-up on this important road in Bramley, which leads to the N3 highway.”

Kunene added that he has been working with Thaba for the past 6 weeks, visiting illegal connections and illegally occupied houses in the area.

Organic Market resident Linkie Mashele said she was happy about the community turnout to clean the informal settlement.

“As a community, we are struggling with litter and cleanliness, because we do not have enough bins, and people dump in the area.

We reprimand each other’s bad habits, as community members, when we see people littering.”

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