KARIEGA – A local resident has taken the initiative to clean up an area near the Uitenhage Train Station, citing growing concern over neglect and the impact it has on community morale.
Barend Lombard, the founder of the Facebook page I Love Uitenhage, is leading a volunteer cleanup at a site near the station commonly referred to as “Die Waterval”. The cleanup is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 21 February, weather permitting.
Speaking to UD Express, Lombard said the idea for the initiative was born out of ongoing conversations with residents about the deterioration of public spaces in Kariega and the wider Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
“I have always worried about the general decay and neglect of Kariega, and for that matter, the whole Metro,” Lombard said. “For the most part people complain about the potholes and the water leaks that run unchecked for a long time before it gets addressed.”
He said a turning point came after repeated exposure to what he described as overwhelming negativity. “Quite a few people were so negative that you could almost feel it in the air,” he said. “My wife asked me, ‘Ja, but who is going to change that?’ Right there I took my phone and started the page.”
Kariega, historically referred to as the “Garden Town”, has long been associated with well-maintained public spaces. Lombard said this legacy continues to motivate his efforts.
“Kariega has been the ‘Garden Town’ for as long as I can remember,” he said. “Why must a group of people, known for their dereliction of duty, be allowed to bring a town with a proud history to its knees? I am trying, in my own way, to prevent that.”
According to Lombard, the station-area site was chosen because of its visibility and potential impact. “Most people drive past that spot regularly,” he said. “If we can create an effective rescue for everyone to notice, it might give them hope for the future.”
The cleanup will rely entirely on volunteers. Lombard has appealed to residents to bring garden equipment and energy, and has made a special request to local garden service companies to assist with grass and edge cutting for at least an hour.
“When the cleaning is done, a tanker full of water is what the grass needs to show us its full potential,” he said.
Lombard said the municipality has already committed to trimming trees at the site ahead of the cleanup, which he views as a positive sign. “This bodes well for the future of Kariega,” he said.
“All I hope is that we can prove we can work together. Together we can make a difference,” he concluded.
For more information, contact Lombard on barendlombard4@gmail.com.
