The Community Work Programme (CWP) from Langaville in KwaThema is cleaning Springs as part of the MMC initiative of the Clean City, Keep Springs Clean programme.
The programme has been running since February and the KwaThema CWP started on Tuesday and will be going on till Thursday.
Ayanda Sibisi, CWP supervisor, says they work with parks and roads departments to clean and they are in partnership with the Springs Customer Care Centre (CCC).
Velaphi Mabena, a cleaner says, “I feel good about cleaning Springs so that our city gets clean and I would like the municipality to increase our salaries. We work eight days a month and earn R736 for the month.”
Ward 74 Clr Thulani Simelani says, “This is part of the MMC’s initiative which includes metro parks, roads, customer relations manager (CRM) office and CWP.“The reason why we took CWP from KwaThema is that there are fewer people in the CWP Springs as compared to in KwaThema. But, when cleaning in KwaThema the ones from Springs go to KwaThema to assist if and when there’s a need.”
Regarding CWP salaries, Simelane asked not to comment saying the CWP is a national programme.
Another cleaner, Zodwa Nene, says, “We have a problem with homeless people as they make the city dirty with their boxes, blankets and other things. I even had an argument with one telling me that we are wrong as we had taken their blankets and boxes and put them in plastic bags while ‘cleaning’.
“Social development has a responsibility to assist the homeless as others want to go to rehab and others want to go back to their families.
“Only social development has requirements, resources and the ability to assist them,” says Simelane.
The municipality was joined by the Vilakazi’s Garden Services in cleaning the city from Tuesday till Thursday.
The garden service is volunteering their time helping in cleaning the parks.
Mncedisi Vilakazi, garden service owner says, “I am happy that the municipality has combined all departments to clean the city. It is a great initiative, that’s what made me join them as I saw it as a good programme.”
