Consistency yields positive results for Katlehong community
Local business K1 Recycling and the community of Moshoeshoe Section have initiated a partnership to expand the community’s vision for a clean and healthy environment.
What started as Moshoeshoe Section residents’ vision to keep their community in Katlehong clean, quickly turned into a blessing.
Inspired by the community’s maintenance team, K1 Recycling and partners Polyco and Fiber Circle established a new partnership with the community as part of their Packa-Ching initiative (PCI).
It was launched and introduced to the community at DE Breyn Primary School (DBPS) grounds, Katlehong, on November 18.
This followed after weeks of engagement with the Moshoeshoe Section executive committee, including chairperson Moeti Molai, secretary Stlhake Sehlare, deputy secretary Thato Bodibe and treasurer Keneiloe Mariti.
Engagement to initiate this partnership began when K1 Recycling founder Tshepo Mazibuko met with the maintenance team who were cleaning at DBPS grounds.
Although he thought they were municipal cleaners he was impressed by what he saw. When he approached them he found that they were concerned residents who formed a maintenance team. Mazibuko, who went from being a waste picker to owning his own business, said this partnership benefits the community, waste pickers and DBPS.
He said recycling is deemed to be undignified by many people in the township, however, what they do not know is that there are opportunities in recycling, adding that it is able to change people’s lives and many families survive from it.
On the day of the launch, K1 Recycling loaded two trucks with waste that was collected by community members.
He said the community will have their own purse which will assist them with their needs and also help needy families in the community.
The three partners donated garden equipment to help the maintenance department to establish a company.
It will service the community and neighbouring sections, and as it grows it will ultimately service Katlehong and neighbouring townships.
The community has formed various departments, namely the Department of Communication, Labour and Opportunities, Social, Environment Developmental Affairs (DEDA), Safety and Security, Infrastructure, Sports, Arts and Culture.
Maki Kganyago (54) is heading the DEDA, which later formed the maintenance team to keep the environment clean.
Kganyago said before forming a maintenance team, they started by cleaning the grounds at DBPS and in areas where they had challenges they outsourced a grader until they met Mazibuko.
“Our children are playing on clean grounds. After we cleaned it motivated residents to keep their yards clean as well. We educate our children to throw their papers and waste in the recycling bin,” said Kganyago.
She said they use trucks and refuge bags provided by K1 Recycling to collect dry waste every Thursday and educate the community about it.
“People are extremely happy. This initiative has reduced the number of nyaope boys who usually collected recyclable waste in the community on Fridays,” she continued.
“They cannot find recyclable tins, bottles and card boxes because the municipality collects waste on Friday after we collected all the dry waste the day before. Another thing that pleased residents is that we do not have a lot of rats anymore, and their community is clean.”
Moeti said they will use the funds to acquire equipment that they need, like a sound system, stage, banners and uniforms for the dancers as they host a lot of events.
He said to ensure that the funds are safe and they do not divide the community, they have registered a bank account with Standard Bank, a treasurer who will facilitate it and they will communicate more often with the community.
“So far the community purse has accumulated R1500, but remember we have a maintenance team which must at least get something from that money for their effort of collecting the waste every Thursday,” said Moeti.
