SHARPEVILLE.- The community of Sharpeville, Ward 14 residents in particular, under the direction of the Boitshepiville Commanders Task Team (a civil and non-profit organization) continue with their community development programmes.

This week, the residents took to cleaning the area around the footpath behind Vuka section, that is used by residents and students alike, when going from and to work, and the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) in Vanderbijlpark.

The area has been notorious for robbery and killings in recent times.

Some community members have even named it, ‘Slagpal’ road (a township term referring to being killed, slaughtered), with most preferring not to use it in fear of their lives. Boitshepiville Commanders Task Team’s Biblos Lebona said that they are doing all this in protection and service to  the community.

“We are for the community, and we want the places that we live in to be safe and clean. Our people should not be made to live in fear,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lebona and other community members are disappointed that the nearby Vuka cemetery, that they recently removed rubbish from has begun do go back to being a dumping place again. The community took matters upon themselves and cleaned the Vuka cemetery, last month much to the delight of everyone.

“We are disappointed with the people who do this (dumping at the cemetery). All our hard work has been for nothing; however, we will not be deterred. We will continue raising awareness about illegal dumping sides, we will continue with our cleaning projects, and all in all, we will continue with whatever projects that develop our community,” Lebona said.

Amongst other projects the Boitshepiville Commanders Task Team continues to guard, voluntarily, the Boitshepiville electricity transformer that is in Tshepiso which supplies the areas of Sharpeville, Boipatong and Tshepiso with electricity, against cable thieves.