Massive clean-up

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 clean-up intervention

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.

Ocean View clean-up intervention

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

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

Roadworthy Centre Re-Opens

Municipality re-opens roadworthy centre in Humansdorp

More than two years after a flash flood shut down operations, the vehicle testing centre at Kouga Municipality in Humansdorp is up and running again.

The A-grade roadworthy centre at Humansdorp was re-opened this week by Executive Mayor Elza van Lingen and Social Services Portfolio Councillor Daniel Benson.

Mayor Van Lingen said the centre had been standing idle since March 2015 when the equipment was damaged in a flash flood.

“This meant that the public could no longer have their vehicles tested at the municipality but had to go to private centres, which often charged more,” she said. “It was a great blow for residents and business alike.”

Re-opening the centre was one of the first tasks the new Council set itself after the municipal elections in August last year.

“The municipality had been paid out by the insurance company more than a year prior, so there were funds available to replace the damaged equipment and re-open the centre,” the Mayor said.

“There were, however, administrative delays which were sorted out as a matter of urgency under the guidance of the new Council.”

She said the Council was very pleased that it could restore this service to the public.

Bookings for the municipality’s vehicle testing centre can be made and paid for at the Kouga Traffic Department in Heugh Street, Humansdorp.

As an A-grade facility, the centre can test vehicles and trailers of all makes and sizes. Tests take between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the vehicle.

Roadwothy Centre

Vehicle testing centre staffers (from left) Lourens Anker and Patrick Mgobo explain the ins and outs of the facility to Social Services Portfolio Councillor Daniel Benson and Kouga Mayor Elza van Lingen

Roadwothy Centre

Vehicle testing centre staffers (from left) Lourens Anker and Patrick Mgobo explain the ins and outs of the facility to Social Services Portfolio Councillor Daniel Benson and Kouga Mayor Elza van Lingen

Roadworthy Centre

Article from 1994 at the orinal opening of the Roadworthy Centre

Press Release – Laura-Leigh, Randall, Media Liaison Officer, Kouga Municipality

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