Following the recent call by eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda for residents to keep their city and communities clean, Shannon Drive Informal Settlement residents displayed true civic pride when they joined the Spring Clean-Up Campaign.
The week-long clean-up saw residents get together with one common goal which is to keep their area beautiful.
Hoosen Moolla, acting head of the area based management at eThekwini Municipality commended the efforts by residents and said that entrenching civic pride adds value in keeping areas clean.
“Residents must not allow their areas to degenerate if there are ways for them to intervene. It starts with us as residents to keep the areas where we live in clean. Let us change our attitudes and instil a culture of treating the area we live in as our own,” said Moolla.
Moolla added that a clean city can be achieved if stakeholders worked together to eliminate waste in residential areas.
“The scourge of illegal dumping and littering has a string of negative effects. This could result in dwindling tourists, investors, and development in general. We encourage residents, schools, businesses and other sectors to form clean-up groups in the areas to help work towards a clean city,” added Moolla.
Alicia Kisson, ward 23 councillor who was also part of the clean up said motivating residents and highlighting the importance of proper waste management is imperative to reduce the level of littering.
“We must be responsible for cleaning the areas where the public has littered. We need to be passionate about cleanliness and maintaining a green environment. Ongoing clean-ups must be implemented to sustain cleanliness,” said Kisson.
Ish Prahladh, chairperson of the Reservoir Hills Ratepayers and Residents Association commended residents for taking the initiative to clean up their area.
“It was heart-warming to see residents and the councillor coming together to keep their area clean. Shannon Drive is looking much better now. I would like to urge residents to clear up the dirt immediately using the refuse instead of waiting for it to pile up,” said Prahladh.
