Clean-up crew hits Crosby

Service delivery got a boost in the western suburb, with City departments and municipal-owned entities pitching in to clean up targeted hotspots.
ILLEGAL dumping sites were cleaned, missing water metre covers were replaced and roads were swept during a multi-disciplinary operation called Let’s Fix It and Clean It, in Crosby, in the west of Johannesburg.

An illegal dumping area is cleanedAn illegal dumping area is cleanedThe one-day operation on 21 October was an attempt to speed up service delivery in the suburb through municipal-owned entities and City departments working together. It was headed by Region B’s urban management department.

On the day, Joburg Water, City Power, Pikitup, metro police, Johannesburg Roads Agency, and others addressed areas of concern. Illegal dump sites were cleaned, illegal electricity connections were disconnected and leaking water pipes were fixed.
Region B suburbs of Crosby, Melville, Brixton, Cyrildene and Mayfair were identified as needing more attention in terms of service delivery.

Promise Moyo, the Region B manager, said there was a site inspection walkabout of the region, to identify areas of need. Because of this, the various City entities knew what was expected of them on the day. “When an area has been identified, we then contact the relevant councillor,” she added.

The clean-up was not simply picking up litter, she said. There was a lot more to it. “We look at matters that affect the whole area.”

Theft of water meter covers is the main problem in the suburb. Even after they were replaced, people would steal them and take them to the scrap yards, she explained.

Other problems identified in the site inspection included a lack of road markings as well as malfunctioning streets lights, so the crews came knowing what needed to be fixed.

Katja Naumann, a councillor in the area, commended workers for their dedication and hard work. She said the campaign showed how much the City cared about its communities.

Checking for illegal electricity connectionsChecking for illegal electricity connections“To do a clean-up is a very helpful job; it’s a serving job. Sometimes you might feel it’s not the nicest job, but I can tell you something – what you do to the community you show them that the City does care and the organisation that you are working for,” she assured the workers.

Naumann, who hoped she would be hearing a lot of compliments from her community, described them as angered by the illegal dumping. “I have had meetings recently with the community and they are angry and tired of the illegal dumping and other service delivery issues,” she said.

Sabera Shaik, the operational manager in the Office of the portfolio head of development planning and urban management, Ruby Mathang, represented her principal. “Ground workers are the most important people in the equation,” she said. “And I am sure the [member of the mayoral committee] will be very proud of you as I will give him a report of today’s activities.

“Doing a little at a time will eventually get us to what Executive Mayor Parks Tau says is building up a world-class city. And I think all of us played a very important role today,” she added.

The clean-up operation is ongoing; it was launched in Rosebank on 19 September and will be rolled out to other areas in Region B.