Vukani Informal Settlement in Alex stands together and clean their area

Vukani informal settlers feels neglected after they are left to fend for themselves while their place slowly turns into a dumping side.

August 17, 2022

Kamva Bena 1 minute read

Volunteers clean up in the Vukani informal settlement. Photo: Kamva Bena

Four women in Alex started a clean-up initiative which they named Vukani Cleaning Campaign.

Before the cleaning up, the site looked something like this. Photo: Kamva Bena

The women, Noncedo Dumile, Celiwe Magugu, Thuliswa Dumile and Siphelele Fubesi live in Vukani informal settlement and their campaign is aimed at cleaning up behind the women’s hostel in the settlement.

“We planned the campaign because we noticed that there are flies now since the summer season is approaching. Also, we were worried about the children’s health since the place has been filthy for a long time,” said Fubesi.

Before the clean-up in Vukani informal settlement. Photo: Kamva Bena

“We started this campaign without any support because we fear getting sick from all the filth… the place where we live has turned into a dumping site. We ask for assistance as we embark on this campaign. We are going to clean as a community but we ask for cleaning materials and lunch because we plan on continuing with the campaign until this place is completely clean,” added Dumile.

A tap that keeps on running in Vukani informal settlement in Alex. Photo: Kamva Bena

Members of the community and EFF who were involved in the clean-up campaign. Photo: Kamva Bena

Dipulelo Mokeona, the PR councillor of the EFF said, “I joined this campaign because this is the same community we run to when we need votes so when they need something we have to help them. Also, this campaign was started by women and I strongly believe if we can join hands as women our communities would go far.”

Dumile said the first clean-up of their campaign had been a success and they had received the necessary help they had needed. “We would love to thank Bab’Linda Twala for assisting with lunch, our councillor Floyd Ngwenya for being hands-on, Freedom Supermarket, EFF and CWP who lent us cleaning tools and the community at large for helping us with the clean-up and also lending us some of the tools including gloves.”