eMBALENHLE – Youth who volunteered to clean their area at Ward 10, eMbalenhle received R10 000 Govan Mbeki Municipality’s executive mayor, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, during his cleaning campaign known as Ijima Lokuhlwengisa last Friday 16 April.
These young people took the initiative to clean their ward because they are unemployed and are trying to keep themselves busy to avoid being involved in criminal activities and drugs.
They have already registered a cooperative by the name of Operation Clena Ikasi.
“I want you to be a good example to other youth. The money that I’m giving you is from my pockets to encourage you to create opportunities for you and others.
“I’m giving you three months to see if you want to grow or if you just want money to share among yourselves,” said Mr Zuma.
Mr Zuma said he is organising training for these youth with government agencies such as the National Youth Development Agency to capacitate them with skills in waste management. The mayor’s cleaning campaign also focused on the unblocking of sewers at eMbalenhle Ext 18, where residents always complain about spills.
Other councillors and MMC were cleaning eMbalenhle cemetery road because Mr Zuma said that most people visit graveyards and he wanted everyone to concentrate on cleaning its roads and entrances.
These young people were provided with waste removal plastic bags to make their work easy.
“We are grateful for the assistance from our municipality, though the money is from our mayor’s pocket.
“We are going to use it to develop our community through recycling and other waste management skills,” said Mr Thulani Mahlangu, Ward 10 youth leader.
