Lombardy West takes focus of local clean-up team

Sleeves were rolled up and clean-up work rolled out in Grenville Road, Lombardy West on October 18, in a collaborative effort by Kew Action Group‘s Ruggero Grech-Cumbo, representatives of Matla a Marwa, community leader Vusi Nkosi, DA candidate councillor for Ward 81 Joanne Horwitz, and other volunteers.

Speaking to the Gazette, Horwitz explained: “After Pikitup and JMPD listened to the pleas of residents and business owners and on Friday (October 16) removed the waste pickers that have illegally been using Grenville Road for unauthorised operations, there was a lot of rubbish left behind.”

She said in considering the rubbish in the road, a call to action was put out to the community. “There was a resounding response from concerned community members wanting to help clear the area of the extensive piles of rubbish.”

As the rubbish was bagged up, Nkosi commented that it was wonderful to see children once more playing in the street. He said that not only had the waste pickers’ operation been an eyesore, but it had also prevented the children from playing outdoors. “There was a clear sense of relief that the dire situation had been rectified,” said Horwitz.

Nkosi and Grech-Cumbo took the opportunity to engage with Horwitz on the issues plaguing the area. “It was highlighted to me how prevalent illegal land use and encroachment was,” said Horwitz. “Also, how this lowered property values, and negatively affected business operations, and increased incidences of violent crime in and around the area.”

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