Cleaning the streets of KwaThema

Getting dirty was the last thing on the minds of more than 50 young people of KwaThema on Saturday as they joined the two youth development organisations to ensure cleanliness in their township.

The initiative by Rebranding KwaThema, a three months old youth development organisation was mainly focused on fighting against irresponsible littering and the fast growing number of illegal dumping sites in the township.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation Mmakgomo Tshetlo, communications manager, said cleaning the streets of KwaThema was their first project.

Adding that before embarking on a cleaning campaign they educated residents about the importance of living in a clean environment and the ways to help them keep the streets clean at all times.

She continued to say that because they noticed that many people in KwaThema live in poverty, they are working to ensure that there is a recycling station in their township to avoid long distances walked by residents to sell what they have recycled.

Wiseman Sedibe, research coordinator said the organisation is also encouraging the youth to become the entrepreneurs.

“We want people of KwaThema to be proud of where they come from while also helping them to fight against unemployment by utilising their skills to create employment for themselves,” said Sedibe.

Gladys Sithole (75), KwaThema’s senior citizen said the filthiness in the township especially around the areas near the illegal dumping sites has posed danger to their health and that of their children who play on these sites.

“What the young people are doing today will prevent us from getting diseases due to breathing in a polluted air,” said Sithole.

She appealed to residents to keep the streets clean by using the bins that they recently received from the municipality to dump and stop illegal dumping.