Stakeholders unite to create safe environment
The initiative was also supported by the eco-champs who assisted to clean the river.
IN a Ward 21 initiative to keep the children and the community safe in an area that has whoonga addicts skulking around, various stakeholders got together to clear the bushes.
Ward 21 councillor, Mfanah Qwabe, said the initiative was a joint project between the community, DSW, the Parks and Recreation Department, Environment Health Department and parents as the area is surrounding Udumo Primary School.
“That area has become a playground for criminals who prey on innocent people. People get robbed there all the time and the overgrown bushes makes it easy for them to flee and hide,” he said.
The initiative was also supported by the eco-champs who cleaned the river running adjacent to the school.
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Aller River Project liaison officer, Thozeka Ntlukwane, said since it is their job to monitor rivers, manholes and spillages, it becomes hard for the eco-hamps to walk through that area.
“Our aim is to teach people not to dump in the rivers and to recycle. We have adopted that area as one of the three spots we are monitoring,” she said.
Principal of the school, Cabangani Mkhize saidhe approached the councillor’s office as the overgrown bushes were attracting criminals and learners were becoming their victims.
Mkhize said at least two incidents of children being robbed were reported at the school.
“With reports of missing children, we really got worried about the safety of our learners. The overgrown bushes made it easy for criminals to gain access into the school premises without being seen.
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“This also helped us to get the parents involved and realise that they also own the school and they should take care of it,” she said.
Mkhize said the area surrounding the school was also used as a dumping area.
