Pilot Blue Flag status for Umtentweni beach
Community teamwork keeps the village shining.
Tweni’s dedication to cleanliness has paid off as the seaside suburb was officially awarded Pilot Beach status at the recent Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) Blue Flag Awards.
This achievement recognises the ongoing commitment of the Tweni Tidy Towns (TTT) team, who has been official for just more than a year, and is a registered non-profit company with a full committee.
Leila Edwards from TTT said the recognition from Wessa is a proud moment for them as it highlights the visible transformation of the suburb.
“With the new Pilot Beach status and our passionate team of volunteers keeping the leafy suburb in top shape, Tweni truly stands out as a shining example of what can be achieved when residents work together for the greater good.”
To make this happen, there is a dedicated team on the ground, and on a daily basis they keep Tweni litter-free.
Ayanda Mchunu works five days a week, focusing on street litter collection, grass planting and maintenance.
Bongani Hlophe assists three days a week, often joining Ayanda for clean ups and litter collection alongside the ‘Waste Warrior’ every Wednesday.
Here are some of their recent achievements and ongoing projects:
* Ambleside Road clean up: a major project is underway from the bridge to The Spot Backpackers, where land along the railway side has been cleared for improved security and visibility. The team has been hard at work removing broken glass, scrap metal and general litter, as well as eradicating alien plants and planting grass to take advantage of the rainy season.
* Labour-intensive upkeep: most TTT funds go directly into hands-on work, from street litter collection to trimming overgrown bushes and maintaining public spaces.
* Bin project success: earlier this year, TTT launched its Tweni Tidy Town Bin Project, selling advertising space on newly built bins. Arthur Edwards and his team designed and erected 29 swivel bins at key spots around Tweni, including the beach. These bins are so well used that they need to be emptied at least three times a week.
* Beach and mosaic upgrades: the Mosaic Group meets whenever the weather allows to maintain and upgrade the beach area. They recently repainted benches and plan to restore several mosaics as soon as conditions improve.
* Intersection improvements: the team recently painted the islands at the R102 and Abingdon Road intersection, brightening the area and improving visibility for motorists.
* Ongoing beach beautification: over the past year, TTT members have repainted the steps leading to the beach and cleared overgrown vegetation, ensuring the coastal walkway remains accessible and attractive.
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