When it comes to cleanliness and order, Gqeberha’s Dr Johann Malherbe doesn’t compromise. He believes that well-kept spaces not only look beautiful, but also have long-term positive effects on people’s well-being and the economy.
As a result, he and a group of like-minded companies and individuals in Nelson Mandela Bay have joined forces to tidy up the 5km stretch of Kragga Kamma Road from Cape Road to Welcome Avenue, Theescombe. The initiative, supported by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, aims at enhancing the road’s appearance and safety, while providing a valuable employment opportunity for a young local resident, Sancho Maranti.
Maranti, a young man who had been unemployed for two years, will be hired to tend to the road’s verges, pavements, and litter, ensuring a cleaner and more welcoming environment for residents and commuters.
Malherbe’s attention to detail saw him driving to Walmer Township on a Sunday, eager to meet Sancho and ensure he was the right person for the job.
“I learned about him through one of the WhatsApp groups I’m in. He is young, energetic, and has been job hunting for two years since completing his schooling,” said Malherbe. “I asked him to send me his location pin, and it took me to a church. When I arrived, the service was still happening, so I went inside and quietly sat down. The church choir was singing a beautiful harmony, and conducting it was a passionate young man wearing white gloves. I knew then that that was the right person for the job.”
This initiative will not only benefit the community, but will also provide Maranti with a sense of purpose and a steady income. When working, he will wear a white uniform, like the gloves he wore the Sunday he met Malherbe, with his name boldly written across his back.
“The idea is for him to be clearly visible for safety reasons, and for people to see him and share words of encouragement and spread the positivity,” said Malherbe.
The initiative’s ambitious goals include repainting road markings, repairing potholes and street lights, cutting grass, and landscaping with suitable trees and plants. Funds permitting, the project aims at making a significant impact on the road’s overall appearance and safety.
The project relies on sponsorships from companies and individuals, with premier sponsors contributing R1 500 per month. In recognition of their support, sponsors’ logos will be prominently displayed on Sancho’s uniform, designed and manufactured by DK2 Sports.
“By supporting Maranti in his new role and contributing to the beautification of Kragga Kamma Road, sponsors and individuals are investing in the well-being of the community and the life of a young resident.”
The initiative welcomes additional sponsors to join this community-driven effort. Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Denise van Huyssteen, welcomed the #TidyKraggaKammaRoad initiative, led by Malherbe.
“This is aligned to our business activist and action-oriented approach, which is geared at implementing targeted interventions to resurge the Bay. To date, there are 11 geographical clusters that operate under the banner of the chamber, and these include the Baakens Valley, Beachfront, Deal Party, Kariega, Fairview, Neave/Korsten, Newton Park, North End, Perseverance, Struandale, and Walmer,” said Van Huyssteen.
She added that the Bay has so much potential, “… and it is vital that as a business community, we collaborate with one another, as well as key stakeholders, to ensure that an enabling environment is in place.
“This will ensure that vital investment and employment are retained, and will help build confidence to enable new investments to be undertaken. Our appreciation goes to Dr Malherbe for taking the lead to get the #TidyKraggaKamma Road initiative up and running.
“His action-oriented efforts, and those of the supporting businesses in the area, will make a big difference in ensuring that the road and surrounding area are well maintained. It is vital that, as a collective, we all play our part in getting the Bay working again.”
Malherbe commended the Business Chamber and stressed that this initiative, and others like it, are an effort to work with the municipality, not against it.
