FOR their efforts in adopting and successfully keeping their spots clean under the Adopt-A-Spot project, Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) Executive Committee and Green Fingers stakeholders in Ward 68 were awarded by Durban Solid Waste, in recognition of their service to the community.
“The award recipients were appreciated by DSW’s Clean Community Awards initiative. They were nominated in the Adopt-A-Spot category, where they were awarded a trophy and certificate. In fact, it’s giving them recognition for the job that they are doing. There’s nothing of monetary value, we are just highlighting the good done by our volunteers,” said DSW’s Education Officer, Nelly Zulu.
The awards are a prestigious trademark of sustainable environmental achievements which take place across eThekwini. It also recognises stakeholders for their continued support and contribution towards a healthy environment.
OSS secretary, Neil Axford, said the award was a great success story and an example that good can be done in the community through collaboration. “This project originated from last year’s public service week, where we held an urgent OSS meeting to address some of the community’s issues. We identified the Adopt-a-Spot programme championed by eThekwini Municipality. We went back to the community and identified people with green fingers and stakeholders who were already keeping the community clean, like The Voice and Gael Meek-Baltimore. We asked if they’d like to adopt a spot and they agreed, and this is their success story of keeping the places clean,” he said.
The two spots adopted are situated on the Post Office verge on Austerville Drive and on the verge of Victor Lawler Road, off the corner of Tuin and Burgers Roads.
Axford said that the committee added another stakeholder this year, Ricardo Lamalette, from Eksteen Road, who will have his own adopted spot to clean and maintain. “Our main aim is to identify two to three spots a year so that in five years we’ll have 10 to 15 spots. That’s how we think we can change the mindset and landscape with regards to cleaning the community in the next three to five years,” he added.
Convenor, Bishop Earl Wilkinson, urged residents to take pride in the beautification process and help sustain the adopted spots. “We appeal to the community to appreciate the efforts made because a lot of work, time and thought are put to this. It will eventually benefit everyone in ward 68 and we’re asking people to work alongside us, become stakeholders together with us, to see our area beautified and benefitting generations because that’s what we want to do,” said Bishop Wilkinson.
He said that the committee plans on roping schools in the area to get involved in the project, as part of the learners’ Life Orientation to perpetuate the mindset. “This programme is a great initiative because even if there is no Arbour Day or no project relating to cleaning at the school, we as leaders from the outside can work and see how we can influence our work inside the school to educate the children,” he added.
Residents interested in joining the Operation Sukuma Sakhe project in Ward 68 are invited to attend meetings held on the first Wednesday of every month at 2pm. The ward caters to Wentworth and Merebank residents, meetings are alternated monthly between the Austerville Community Centre and the Merebank Library. For more information, call Neil Axford on 076 878 7463.
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