Brakpan Radio Group on a cleaning mission
The area identified in dire need of a major clean-up by members of the Brakpan Radio Group (BRG) was the short stretch of railway tracks situated along Carmyllie Avenue.
Not shy of getting their hands dirty a Brakpan community group recently endeavoured on a clean-up operation in Dalview.
The area identified in dire need of a major clean-up by members of the Brakpan Radio Group (BRG) was the short stretch of railway tracks situated along Carmyllie Avenue.
The tracks have not been used for many years and are overgrown with weeds and tall grass.
Many sections of the palisade fencing – meant to keep people out – have been removed and possibly sold as scrap metal.
“Not only does this look atrocious but it also creates a security risk as it provides an ideal hiding place for burglars and other criminals alike,” said BRG member Shawn Hefer.
“Lately it has become a terrible eyesore for the residents living in the area as rubbish bin delvers (informal recyclers) have turned this into a horrific mess.
“It would appear that the people who go through our refuse on a daily basis have now taken to removing garbage bags from the bins and bringing it here to sort through undisturbed.
“This is most likely because many residents chase them away as soon as they approach their wheelie bins because of the mess they leave behind for frustrated residents to clean up.
“The rubbish bags are placed in these homemade trolleys and transported to this area, among others, where the bags are then torn open and the contents spilt all over the place.
“They then sort through the rubbish at leisure taking what they want and leaving the rest of the refuse right there for all to see.”
The BRG rolled out their clean-up project on July 2 where a handful of community members from the group started clearing the area.
According to Hefer, however, the very next morning the area looked the same as it did prior to the clean-up.
“It was found that the vagrants had struck again during the early hours of Monday morning nearly undoing everything that was achieved the previous day,” he said.
A post was placed on a local Facebook page challenging community members from all organisations and groups to assist during the second clean-up session which was held on Sunday.
“Sadly the challenge was left largely unanswered as the only people who bothered showing up were the very same people who were present the previous week to help make a difference,” he said.
“A huge lot was accomplished on Sunday and the volunteers left with a satisfied feeling of achievement.
“Unfortunately this feeling was short-lived as on Monday it was discovered that the litterbugs had struck yet again.”
The BRG has urged the Brakpan community to join them this Sunday (July 16) when they will resume clearing up this area.
Interested residents can bring along refuse bags, a pair of gloves and, if possible, some gardening equipment to aid in the removal of weeds.
“We also encourage residents to only put out their wheelie bins the day the refuse is collected thus limiting the supply of rubbish used to litter our town,” added Hefer.
The BRG was founded in February 2010 and is a Christian orientated Afrikaans-speaking cultural group.
All the members of the BRG are in radio contact with each other via two-way radios.
For more information, contact Johnny Smith on 074 550 7001 or send an email to brakpanradiogroep@gmail.com
Also read:
Radio Groep rol moue op om bejaarde te help
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