Newlands East cleans up

CREATING a clean and liveable environment is the end goal for the residents of Newlands East. They have initiated clean-up campaigns, and many illegal dumping sites have been cleared.

Allison Houston, founder of the campaign, said they wanted to reclaim their community following the July 2021 unrest. They started by forming a patrolling team to ensure the area was safe during the looting.

After this she asked the residents if they would be interested in cleaning the community, and many were.

“We were tired of begging the eThekwini Municipality to clean the illegal dumping sites and the areas around the stormwater drains that were polluted. We started clean-ups around the John Dory ground.”

She said the residents from Conger Place, Roman Place, Mackerel Avenue, Chubb Place, Galjoen Road, Bream Close, Bonita Place and Cod Place remained hands-on in the clean-up operations.

Some of the residents’ children who helped were as young as 5.

“We have been working well together. Hopefully, we will get more volunteers as we have another clean-up on Saturday. We will keep going because we know the end result we are aiming for, which is a safe and clean environment for our kids.”

She said the municipality was aware of their clean-up campaigns and in February began to provide some cleaning tools. These included “no dumping” signs, cleaning gloves and garbage bags.

“They also collect the bags and branches after we are done cleaning.”

The group plan to start a communal vegetable garden next.

“Some residents suggested we start a vegetable garden to supply food to families struggling in the community and to three crèches in the area. However, we need cleaning tools and any help we can get.”

Rozanne Titus, a resident who is part of the campaign, said: “It’s good that people in the community support us with donations, lunch packs, black bags and garden tools.

“Others can also reclaim their communities by not sitting back. You have to be the change, and most times it becomes a ripple effect. After we started with our clean-up, other areas like Albacore Road and Slinger Road, also in Newlands East, have followed suit.”

Graeme Clarivette, a councillor, said: “I make time to help because I understand how important it is to keep our community clean, and other areas are starting to do the same. It would be great to see a campaign like this reach other communities.”