For most residents who celebrated their birthday in lockdown, the event is considered as a sombre experience.
Mlungisi Mthembu has celebrated his birthday while the country is on lockdown, however, he has used his special day to beautify and clean-up the environment.
After noticing heaps of garbage piling up along the road that he travels on every day, he decided to be the change.
Mlungisi, who celebrated his 42nd birthday on Wednesday, 20 May, said, “I always have a big celebration on my birthday, but because of the lockdown it was not possible this year. Doing good for others is something that I am highly passionate about and I thought what’s better than cleaning up the environment.”
ALSO READ: Tons of litter collected at clean up
After rallying his fellow members of a car club, AmaToyz Corsa Lite Club, and with the help of members of DSW, the clean-up took place on Thursday, 21 May.
“I noticed the area being used as an illegal dumping site at the start of lockdown and I contacted the municipality. Every day the heap grew some more, so I decided to clean it up. The municipality supplied us with masks, gloves, bags and some staff also assisted. Not only is littering polluting the environment, but it is also a health hazard for animals and humans,” he added.
Mlungisi works at a nursery in Durban North and is passionate about the environment. The Warner Beach resident is married to Thulisile and they have three children, Londeka, 17, Mlondi, 13, and Melo, 3. He hopes to pass his love for community and the environment on to his children. He is a retired soccer coach and enjoys playing sport and gardening.
ALSO READ: Clean up your act and start recycling this spring
His message for residents during lockdown is to keep indoors whenever possible and try to help each other from a distance.
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