September 5, 2003

A CLEANING and greening campaign, run by the Siyathuthuka Project and Johannesburg City Parks, is under way in Soweto.

With the help of Johannesburg City Parks, trees are to be planted and the area around Phiri and Senoane is to be cleaned up.

The project, part of the national Bontle ke Botho campaign, was launched in Phiri and Senoane this week, in recognition of the work being done by the community-based project Siyathuthuka. The community-based project won a R50 000 prize, in a competition sponsored by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs. This money would be spent on "the overall improvement of the area".

City Parks launches a project to plant trees in Phiri and Senoane, Soweto

The programme to upgrade the local conditions was a pilot project that, if successful, would be implemented in other districts in the township.

Johannesburg City Parks had adopted the ward 15 - Phiri and Senoane - and "co-developed, with Siyathuthuka, an integrated plan" to improve the local environment, planting trees, cleaning up litter and upgrading the local open areas.

Johannesburg City Parks managing director of JCP, Luther Williamson thanked the people in Soweto "for their commitment to conserving the environment".

The task of keeping the ward clean was ongoing, with Siyathuthuka's volunteers visiting local schools to educate and inform learners in a fun, friendly way about the benefits of a clean environment. Learners would be encouraged to share this information with their family and friends.

Siyathuthuka technical project leader, Lerato Motaung, said the group currently worked with nine local schools. "We teach school children how to plant vegetables and trees. They can then go home and start their own vegetable gardens, which will help alleviate the problems of hunger people in Soweto are still facing."

Another aspect of Siyathuthuka's work was to oversee the preservation of the parks in area. A common problem was that of vandalism, Motaung said.

While Johannesburg City Councillor for community development, roads and parks Christine Walters commended the community on their efforts, she pointed out that vandals were costing the council thousands of rands.

"The community must protect and take ownership of the infrastructure, " she said. Walters suggested residents formed park committees and appointed park wardens to try and alleviate the problem.

Gauteng MEC for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs, Mary Metcalfe, said that she was "excited" and "proud of the progress made" with regards to involving local communities in environmental projects.

"If we're going to build Johannesburg, we must build an environment that acknowledges the spirit of Bontle ke Botho, meaning being human is being beautiful."