Kew community reclaim Corlett Drive in Youth Day clean-up
Inspired by a desire to give back, community members spent June 16 restoring a neglected space on Corlett Drive in Kew, turning a former crime hotspot into a cleaner and safer public space.
A spirit of service and community pride defined this year’s Youth Day celebrations as Kew residents, members of the Sandringham Community Policing Forum (CPF), Bramley CPF, Sandringham Youth Desk, Kew Action Group and Vuselela joined forces to clean and restore a section of Corlett Drive in Kew.
Residents had raised concerns about the area, describing it as a hotspot for criminal activity due to dense vegetation and poor maintenance.
Volunteers spent the day cutting grass, trimming trees, sweeping sidewalks and removing debris to create a cleaner, safer environment for residents, workers and commuters who use the route daily.
Bramley CPF member Lebo Kgang said clean-up was a meaningful way to commemorate Youth Day.
“We decided to celebrate June 16 differently because most of the time we find that people are sitting and drinking,” Kgang said.
“We decided to spend our time cleaning this abandoned place.”
Lorraine Buzo, a resident of Bramley View and member of the Sandringham CPF, said the clean-up was prompted by complaints from residents about criminal activity in the area.
“We had received multiple reports from the community that this abandoned place has been a site for criminal activities, where the criminals would hide in the overgrown [vegetation].”
Also read: Better Bryanston volunteers clean up
Kew Action Group chairman Ruggero Grech-Cunbo said the organisation was proud to support the community initiative with equipment, machinery and resources.
“We’re working now on Corlett Drive to ensure that the sidewalks are clean, to protect the properties in the area, prevent vagrants from sleeping there and to ensure that there’s no break-ins at surrounding properties.
“We are cutting trees that are hanging over the pavements, cutting overgrown grass and clearing the sidewalks to make the place look attractive and safe.”
Resident Wakgosi Pako thanked volunteers for taking action to address a long-standing problem.
@caxtonjoburgnorth Watch: A spirit of service and community pride defined this year’s Youth Day celebration in Kew as members of the Sandringham Community Policing Forum (CPF), Bramley CPF, Sandringham Youth Desk, Kew Action Group and residents joined forces to clean and restore a section of Corlett Drive. Video: Xoliswa Zakwe #Sandton #CPF ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
“Before, there was a big tree here, behind which people were hiding and robbing pedestrians of their cellphones,” Pako said.
He added that the overgrown site had also become a gathering place for people sorting through scrap and waste materials collected during the day.
“I am so grateful to see that our community has turned up and done something about this. We can live without fear of getting robbed in our neighbourhood.”
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