Kouga Mayor launches massive clean-up intervention
600 tonnes collected as Kouga Mayor launches massive clean-up intervention
Some 600 tonnes of rubbish was collected at Jeffreys Bay this past week as Kouga Mayor Elza van Lingen officially launched a massive clean-up campaign, set to be rolled out across the region.
More than 100 community members took part in the campaign, which stretched over five days and covered the areas of Pellsrus, Tokyo Sexwale, Mandela Bay and Ocean View.
Mayor Van Lingen said illegal dumping sites, sidewalks and open spaces were cleared of all manner of waste, from empty bottles and dirty nappies to broken appliances and building rubble.
“The cleansing teams collected more than 600 cubic metres of rubbish – that’s roughly equal to 600 tonnes – and carted it to the regional waste site at Humansdorp,” she said.
“We are grateful to them for doing such a great job and making a visible difference to their communities.”
She said owners of open plots where rubble or garden refuse were being kept, would also be notified to have it removed.
Mayor Elza van Lingen and Social Services Portfolio Councillor Daniel Benson took time out to share their vision for Jeffreys Bay with Kaylen Vaaltyn (2), Bryce Jordaan (2), Courtney Smit (2) and Raydene Jordaan (6) during the recent Kouga Mayoral Clean-up Intervention in Jeffreys Bay.
The Mayor said casual littering and illegal dumping were two of the big challenges facing communities and the municipality.
“The municipality has accelerated its drive to keep Kouga clean, and we want to call on communities to join us in this war on waste.
“A clean area improves everyone’s quality of life and makes for happier and healthier communities.
“It also helps to create job opportunities because a clean area is more attractive to tourists and creates a good impression on potential investors.”
She said the municipality would be putting up extra signage to warn against illegal dumping and that action would be taken against perpetrators.
She also called on grown-ups to take children by the hand and teach them that littering was wrong and harmful to their environment.
The Kouga Mayoral Clean-up Intervention will be moving to Humansdorp this week. Several smaller clean-ups were also held ahead of the massive Jeffreys Bay clean-up, so as to help raise awareness of the need for communities and the municipality to band together in the war against waste.
The entrance of Ocean View was among the areas that were cleaned up as part of the campaign. (During Clean-Up)
Ocean View clean-up intervention (After)
St Francis Today will keep you informed when the intervention moves to Sea Vista & St Francis Bay
Press Release
Laura-Leigh Randall
Kouga Municipality
Media Liaison Officer
084 2055 388
Fantastic & well done to the Mayor & all who are involved in this initiative. Once the community take ownership of their areas, the more pride they will have in making it better for all. The authorities have to support & back these initiatives. Continual education of the youth is essential to sustain the ethos.
Thank you Kouga keep up the good work.
Can anyone tell us what has happened to the Skips promised for garden refuse is place of the tip site being closed as St francis
A great initiative, but this is only a short-term palliative measure, which does nor address the causes of illegal dumping. This is almost inevitable if adequate provision is not made for disposal of garden & building waste within reasonable reach of residents. The requirement to cart all refuse to Humansdorp is not reasonable, and is bound to be ignored by many.The closure of the Refuse Tip at St Francis Bay is a classic example. Is any action being taken to identify a more suitable place, or to have the tip re-opened on a proper management basis, which would eliminate the pollution arising from failure to manage the tip properly?