MMC Moerane takes Kleena Joburg reloaded back to the inner-city
#KleenaJoburg campaign is in full force in Region F.
More than 100 student volunteers from the University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, braved the rain and cold to participate in the #KleenaJoburg campaign.
The clean-up took place on May 8 in the inner-city and is aimed at transforming the City into a clean and safe environment for residents.
MMC for environment and infrastructure services councillor Mpho Moerane was accompanied by the MD of Pikitup, Bulelwa Njingolo, and other senior managers of the City.
Moerane led from the front, going from street to street and leaving it cleaner. Officials and volunteers from local communities spruced up identified hot spots on King George, Wanderers and De Villiers streets in the inner city of Johannesburg.
The rain did not deter Moerane and City employees who were equipped with brooms, litter pickers, gloves and refuse bags. Pikitup came prepared with heavy artillery, including compactors, street trucks, tipper trucks and mechanical sweepers.
“The problem in this area is congestion and high-rise buildings where people do not have 240-litre bins to dispose of their waste anywhere. Pikitup schedule waste collection in this area occurs three times a day (8am, 1pm and 8pm); however, there are no visible changes.
“We are with JMPD today to enforce by-laws, issue fines on people who are littering and illegally dumping waste and causing havoc in the CBD. As the City, we want to make sure the inner city is clean,” said Moerane.
The City was joined by some external partners, including the Windsor Community Cleaning Association (WCCA), University of Johannesburg students’ volunteers and the I Love Hillbrow an EPWP group.
Andy Balaram, a community engagement specialist representing the student volunteers, said: “We have been part of the city clean-up for the past five years, where we have between 200 and 300 students who have joined the project.
“Every second weekend the students clean the whole of Doorfontein, Bertrams and parts of Hillbrow to ensure we keep the environment clean.”
Representing the WCCA, Patrick Kule said: “Our mission is to clean and transform the surrounding areas of Johannesburg trying to restore the cleanliness of our community and trying to change the mindset of residents.
“A lot of education and awareness has to be done as the mindset is the problem; our people needs to be taught the importance of keeping the environment clean.”
