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WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH 2013
‘The reason our beautiful city has lost its sparkle is because people are used to littering.’ – Sylvia Lucas
FROM the left are Col Gog Richards, the MEC of Environment and Nature Conservation, Sylvia Lucas, and the Sol Plaatje mayor, Agnes Ntlangula, who will also get their hands dirty to keep the city clean. Photo: Boipelo Mere
Kby needs its sparkle } Boipelo Mere RESIDENTS of the Sol Plaatje Municipality are urged to dirty their hands by separating their refuse and recycling. This is in order to help prevent illegal dumping, which has become a nightmare to the city. Agnes Ntlangula, the Sol Plaatje mayor, admitted to the fact that although there were municipal trucks, they were not enough. Whilst emphasising waste separation, the provincial MEC for the Department of Nature Conserva-
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tion, Sylvia Lucas, highlighted that the municipality had to ensure that communities were provided with bins. The issues surrounding the littered streets of Kimberley were highlighted during the launch of the Clean-up Campaign where members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) also offered assistance. Both the MEC and the mayor admitted to not winning in efforts to keep the city clean the past few years. The campaign, which is expected
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to cover the CBD and selected hotspots in the township, is said to run in two phases – March and May. Thereafter it is expected to run once every quarter. More than 1 500 people ranging from government department staff, EPWPs, NGOs, SANDF members, NOCCI and the African Bank joined hands with the Sol Plaatje Municipality in the campaign. The municipal traffic police, military police and the municipal disaster management team also offered assistance. As the taxi rank was identified as
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one of the hot-spots, the Taxi Association agreed to a partnership and pledged to support the campaign. Lucas said that the campaign was an opportunity for government and businesses to work together as earners would also have the opportunity to paint the bins. “The culture of littering needs to be addressed. “The reason our beautiful city has lost its sparkle is because people are used to littering. “We need an effort that will work for us, even if it means using the Eco-schools Project to encourage
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communities to be cautious of the environment and stop illegal dumping,” emphasised the MEC. She pointed out that a lack of budget to train people in creating awareness was also a problem. “Kimberley has turned into a landfill. I cannot brag about it to anyone anymore. “For the community to say there are no refuse bins, is not an excuse. We have to work together to keep our city clean,” said Ntlangula. “Cleanliness begins at home. That is where awareness needs to start,” continued Ntlangula.
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