Two municipal workers were overjoyed to received an award in recognition of their outstanding dedication to their work. Zama Sithole, 28, and Lindiwe Mendu, 59, were awarded the Edith Mkhize excellence award by the eThekwini Municipality Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit for their sterling and ongoing efforts to keep Baggies Beach clean.
A proud acting beach manager, Jace Govender, was full of praise of the two woman. “Too often members of the public seek to tarnish municipal workers. They don’t see the good that they do and there is more good than bad.
We ask the public to rather work with us than against us. If you see something wrong, instead of rushing to air it on social media to get yourself more likes, rather alert us at ground level, so that we can resolve it. Posting it on social media in an effort to shame the workers and the municipality doesn’t get the response and attention to resolve the matter.”
Zama has been at Baggies for a year and five months after starting at Pipeline Beach. “This award means a lot to me. It makes me happy that the public appreciate what we do.” Asked how the public can assist them more in their jobs, Zama replied: “By using the bins provided to get rid of their litter. Also, if there is a problem, feel free to speak to us and show us the places where you think we need to put more effort.”
READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti’s Wessex Drive gets prioritised
Lindiwe, who lives in Lovu Township, started cleaning at Winkle Beach in 1982 and was moved to Baggies about 20 years ago. “I’m so happy to receive this award and it is the first one in the 37 years I have worked for the municipality. This makes up for all the long hours and walking. I’m suppose to retire next year, but I don’t want to – I want to continue serving the community.”
Ward 97 councillor, André Beetge echoed Govender’s praise of the workers. “Social, print or electronic media – everyone seems to have an opinion, although often ill informed or quite bizarre, and circumstances within society have become of such that we seem to thrive on the negative. We tend to first seeing the pothole within 1 000 square metres of perfect tar, note the single cigarette butt on an otherwise pristine beach and complain to the world about the neighbour’s dog barking a five-minute sermon in a 24-hour day.
“There is undoubtedly room for improvement where it comes to service delivery and municipal employee productivity, the lack of which is continually being reported to structures if and when noted during our patrols, but when working so closely with these people, one also gets to understand their challenges and frustration when they have to carry the brunt for litter, blocked drains or rubbish in the streets, beaches and parking areas that were neither deposited nor caused by them, but rather by faceless residents and users of these amenities.
READ ALSO: Community warned against disposing alien objects in sewers
“Given thus the favoured approach of negative grandstanding as opposed to seeking resolves for common challenges, we are absolutely elated that Ma Zama and Lindiwe, two of the custodians of the Baggies Beach amenities and who are also tasked to clean around the building and adjacent beach, were nominated to receive awards of recognition.
“The criteria of these awards rested not with the parks, recreation and cemeteries department, but instead relied on observations, recommendations and accolades received from the public, local as well as tourist, where these individuals were specifically mentioned for their positive contributions. It seems the approach still relies on whether one sees the glass either half full or half empty – congratulations and keep up the good work ladies!”
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
To receive our free newsletter click here
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
