THE usual refuse found in neg-lected gardens, plastic bags, glass bottles and even a car bumper…
These are just some of the things residents of Summerville Avenue in Westering have laid their hands on since they took on the daunting task of cleaning their street.
Gloria and Boetie Smuts started out more than a year ago, before being joined by their neighbour, John Lovell, as well.
They’ve since teamed up with Ward 9 Councillor, Heinrich Müller, and members of the NMBM Waste Cleansing Department as well.
“It is amazing what they’re doing here. When I see people like this who want things clean and green, I am more than willing to go the extra mile,” said Estelle Barnard, a superinten-dent of the Waste Cleansing Department.
“Do you want to live in this mess? Don’t always ask what the municipality can do for you; do something for yourself. If you can do some of the lighter things, they will be there to help you with the heavier stuff,” Gloria said.
“Sometimes you have to get off your backside and do something yourself. It’s ended up where it’s given us a lot of personal satisfaction,” Lovell added.
They didn’t stop at cleaning, either. Boetie approached the Old Grey Club about trees that were cut down and they used the logs to build a little sanctuary. And they are far from finished.
“We decided to keep going and clean as we go,” Boetie said.
The project has had the added effect of bringing some of the wildlife back to the area as well, including frogs and monkeys that haven’t been seen there in some time.
“We even got the snakes to come back and bother us,” Gloria laughed.
Müller said when a municipal team shows up and sees the efforts of the community, it makes them positive about their work as well.
“And this is starting to change mindsets,” he added.
They are hoping it snowballs from there.
“If everyone who lives in this street just concentrates on this street, and other residents on their street, soon enough Westering will be clean, PE will be clean and South Africa will be clean,” Boetie said.
For a glimpse at the results of the ‘clean and green’ project or to try out the sanctuary, take a drive down Summerville Avenue, where you just might come across a fairy garden, a weather rock and the Hobbitsville sign…
- Anyone willing to contribute to the project, especially with donations of soil, can contact John Lovell at 041 360 6743 or 083 416 9207.
