Verge competition

THE Municipality’s Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries Department has started this year’s cutting cycle of unmaintained road reserve and verges within the municipal area, and is running a verge campaign aimed at encouraging residents to beautify and keep their verges well maintained.

According to the municipality, verge cutting in residential areas is done according to a pre-set schedule, with the first cycle having started on 6 October. A cycle lasts an average of six weeks and is mainly dependent on conducive weather conditions. For instance, if it rains, verges cannot be cut and this prolongs a cycle.

eThekwini Municipality Head of Communications, Tozi Mthethwa, said verges not maintained by the adjacent property owner or occupier should be cut by the municipality up to seven times a year on a six week cutting cycle programme. She said illegally dumped inorganic material such as bottles, tins, and so on, are picked up, bagged and removed to a recognised landfill site before cutting.

“The Municipality would like to express appreciation to the majority of ratepayers who undertake to maintain their verges. This directly impacts on a clean, green, aesthetically pleasing and safe neighbourhood. It also instils a sense of civic pride which only has a positive influence on the neighbourhood and municipality,” said Mthethwa.

As part of the verge campaign, residents are encouraged to submit details of verges they feel are creatively landscaped, well maintained, visually appealing and contribute to the beautification of the street and neighbourhood. Entries will then be assessed by representatives from the municipality and owners of the verges that are aesthetically appealing will be honoured and recognised at an awards ceremony.

“The verge is the first thing one sees when they enter a premises. Therefore, the look of the verge is the first impression a person will have about the type of environment they are entering into. If all verges are well maintained by residents it collectively uplifts the area. The verges impact on the property prices within a neighbourhood,” said Mthethwa.

The verge campaign supports the Clean and Maintain My City Campaign, which is a call by Mayor, James Nxumalo to all residents to take care of their local areas and keep them clean.

People can send a photograph of the verge accompanied by a short motivation to charles.ambrose@durban.gov.za, MMS to 083 288 8790 or hand-deliver to Botanic Gardens, 70 St Thomas Road, Durban. Also include the physical address, name and contact details of the property owner/occupant and specify whether it’s a residential house, block of flats or business area.

Entries close on 7 November.