Mfuleni residents unite for a cleaner community during World Clean-Up Day

Residents of Mfuleni welcomed a recent clean-up campaign in their community, though some voiced concerns that it might be linked to electioneering.

The Ithalomso World Clean-Up Campaign was held on Friday, September 19, at Barber Park in Ward 114, as part of the global World Clean-Up Day initiative. The event seeks to raise environmental awareness and inspire active citizen participation in creating safer, cleaner spaces.

Coordinator Tshegofatsi Sebashe said: “We invited several stakeholders, including community members, to join us in celebrating the World Clean-Up Campaign. Today, we’re marking the occasion by cleaning the park so that children can enjoy a safer and cleaner environment.”

The day also featured educational sessions where residents learned about recycling and proper waste sorting, while being encouraged to keep their surroundings clean for the sake of their health.

Ms Sebashe said cleanliness remained one of the community’s biggest challenges. “That is why we decided to embark on this clean-up campaign. Today we’re focusing on collecting the rubbish in the park, because this is where our children play. We believe they deserve better health and a brighter future,” she said.

She thanked community members and partners such as Nobantu, Afrika Tikkun, and Women for Peace for their support. Volunteers not only collected litter but also separated recyclables, tackling rubbish across three different areas of the park. Soon, heaps of waste had been gathered, sorted, and cleared from the public space.

Onke Mkhathu from Women for Peace reiterated the importance of children playing in clean areas. She urged community members to stop dumping.

“This was the best park here, but today it is a dumping site. Our call to the community is simple - please ensure our children are playing in a clean environment. Let us take care of their health,” she said.

Her colleague at Women for Peace, Akha Mbobisa, said garbage and pollution posed serious health hazards for residents. He said the park had become a place where scavengers and stray dogs were often seen tearing open garbage bags along the streets.

While residents around the park acknowledged the clean-up campaign, they were reluctant to accept responsibility for the park's condition, claiming there were people tasked with cleaning the township.

Mzekezeke Lotha said: “We are happy because at least something is happening. If they can do this, not only before elections, this park would be clean all the time. We have been watching our children play in filth. But even the streets of Mfuleni are filthy. Credit must go to these volunteers for coming out to clean for us while the community members are basking in the sun,” he said.