Residents of Dalpark Ext 1 held a spring clean-up in the suburb on September 2.
The community has adopted a We Will Self programme and raised funds which they used to purchase a tractor and other equipment to maintain the parks in the area themselves.
According to resident Bart Zaayman, seven unemployed individuals were also hired for the day.
“It was not only a clean-up but job creation as well,” he said.
“The tractor was put to good use, clearing dead tree branches away and carting loads of weeds and grass removed from curbs and stormwater drains.”
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Litter was also picked up and taken away.
Zaayman added that residents are now repairing potholes themselves and road-marking paint has been donated that will be put to good use.
These residents also have a well-equipped fire trailer as a first-line fire defence. This was acquired after a house burned down a few years ago.
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“Residents are not taking over the fire brigade’s role, it is just to curtail a fire till the fire brigade arrives,” said Zaayman.
“We are proud to say that three houses were saved from burning down. The fourth, only the garage and outbuildings could be saved.
“On the R23, a soda ash tanker was saved and a car fire and a number of veld fires have been put out.”
Zaayman added that the community of Dalpark Ext 1 challenges all other suburbs to follow their example.
