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EERSTE RIVER: CLEANING EFFORT AT LOCAL CANAL
Canal gets cleaned up JAY-DEE CYSTER @jaydeecyster The canal cleaning team. Back from left: Nathan Veronie (supervisor), Meagon Ross, Mongezi Blayi, James Kock and Fredericko Samuels. In front is Olothando Kayana.
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esidents of Eerste River can look forward to a noticeable difference in the condition of the local canal since workers started their cleaning efforts two weeks ago. The clean-up has been on the agenda of ward 16 councillor Jerome Fitz since last year, when he decided to undertake the cleaning of the canal in an effort to ensure it is restored to an area where local residents can relax and enjoy recreational activities. Currently, the cleaning is being done under the guidance of contractor Norman Demane who has employed workers from the City’s jobseekers database. “This is the first phase of the project. We cannot do this alone. We need the participation of the community and we need all residents to take ownership of the canal,” says Fitz. Currently six workers are systematically working their way down the canal, picking up household and general refuse and debris that has been dumped. According to Fitz, dumping is a regular occurrence within his ward and he urges residents to make use of the Faure waste facility. The pilot project, which will run for an initial period of three months, is being closely monitored by Fitz as well as principal technician Shaun du Toit from the Transport and Urban Development Authority (TDA). The plan includes the cleaning of the canal, after which it will be divided into various sections which will be monitored for dumping by two persons per section. “We will also monitor the number of bags of dirt coming in over a threemonth period and will then assess the sustainability of the project,” explains Du Toit. Furthermore, he says plans also include upskilling the current workers to use specialised equipment to cut the grass and vegetation growing on the canal banks. “We need the residents living close to the canal to take ownership of it and to report illegal dumping,” he says. Du Toit however says he is mindful of the fact that refuse pick-up facilities are needed within the community as many people do not have the means to cart their dirt away.
PHOTO: JAY-DEE CYSTER
Fitz says one of the objectives of this project is to instil some form of pride regarding the canal within the community. “Residents need to motivate one another not to dump and when they see a person on their way to the canal with a dirt bin they should encourage them to take their refuse to the Faure waste facility, which is open seven days a week,” says Fitz.
The canal clean-up is complementary to the TDA’s twice yearly canal clean-up, before and after the annual rains. “In an effort to curb dumping in between the clean-up periods, the councillor approached me with the idea,” says Du Toit. “Whatever we are doing here has not been done before. Therefore it is fluid and can change in response to the needs that arise.”
Fitz encourages the community to report illegal dumping or related issues to him at the Eerste River Multipurpose Centre on Mondays and Wednesdays from 09:00 to 15:00 or at the Mfuleni Community Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 09:00 to 15:00. Residents can also contact the councillor by calling him or sending him a WhatsApp on 071 134 2229.