Unity was the message everyone who took part in the Daveyton cleaning campaign wanted to bring across on July 15 at the Daveyton Mall and Mayfield Square.
The Etwatwa Greening Team, government officials and community members came together to clear up the rubble at the Daveyton Mall and Mayfield Square that was hit the hardest by looters on July 12 and 13.
Mbali Hlophe, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Gauteng, said this initiative was part of rebuilding the country.
“We invited artists, sports representatives, people of the Jewish community and residents to help us rebuild what had been trashed.
“People from different walks of life came together to share the same message: that we will work together to rebuild.’’
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The Ekurhuleni Waste Department came on board and provided hundreds of volunteers with black bags and would later remove all the rubble collected.
MMC for Health and Social Services in Ekurhuleni Nomadlozi Nkosi said the metro was embarking on meeting with stakeholders to find a way forward.
“We are here today to lend a hand in rebuilding what was destroyed by these hooligans.
“As the MMC for health and social services, one of my biggest concerns is the invasion of privacy, as the pharmacy had been looted and people’s private files were exposed and destroyed.’’
She added the metro was saying no to looting and was against all who broke the law.
“We need to encourage everyone in our communities to come together to sing one song.’’
Residents in the Mayfield area were also left to deal with the aftermath of the looting. Npendulo Lukhele, who lives five minutes from the square, said they watched the development of the square and were excited to have a place they could walk to that would provide all their needs.
“We now have to drive 30 minutes to town to buy our basic needs because the looters destroyed our square.’’
Deputy chairperson of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies Prof Karen Milner, who was invited by the MEC, said they all watched with dismay and horror the lootings and wanted to help with the clean-up.
Over 20 people from the Jewish community came to help restore what was left of the square.
“The situation is complicated and it’s hard to see how people have lost their livelihoods.
“People are here in good spirit to help rebuild and give a symbol of hope,’’ said Milner.
Vusi Matladi from the Etwatwa Greening Team added he felt happy seeing everyone come together as a unit to help clean up the affected areas.
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