GEORGE NEWS - Residents, municipal officials and campaign partners came together on the streets of Thembalethu on Friday 27 February for a silent walk against illegal dumping.
The event formed part of George Municipality’s ongoing awareness campaign, reinforcing a shared commitment to restoring community pride and protecting public spaces.
The walk began outside Thembalethu Police Station at the corner of Nelson Mandela Boulevard and Nkonjane Street, an open space identified as a recurring hotspot for illegal dumping, symbolically highlighting the need for urgent and sustained action.
Sivuyile Mtila, Senior Manager: Environmental Services, introduced stakeholders and thanked them for their continued support. Organisations involved included Polyco (Polyolefin Responsibility Organisation NPC), Shoprite, the South African Police Service (SAPS), Henque Waste, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
MMC for Community Services, Councillor Erika Brown, welcomed participants and thanked them for their commitment to keeping Thembalethu clean.
George Mayor Browen Johnson addressed the crowd before the walk, stressing that maintaining clean neighbourhoods is a shared responsibility between the Municipality and residents. “Illegal dumping is everyone’s problem. It is not only the aesthetics of an area that are impacted. Yes, it is an eyesore, but it also affects health and the environment,” he said.
He urged residents to take ownership of their immediate surroundings. “Illegal dumping is not allowed. It damages our environment, threatens public health and undermines the dignity of our community.”
Following the address, participants embarked on the silent walk in a visible show of unity against environmental neglect.
The route followed Nelson Mandela Boulevard into 26th Avenue and ended at Makhaza Street, another illegal dumping hotspot, at an open space opposite the Roman Catholic Church, where clean-up activities began.
Participants also posed for photographs in a branded campaign frame displaying anti-illegal dumping messages, symbolising their collective commitment to protecting the environment.
The initiative forms part of the Municipality’s month-long campaign focused on education, enforcement and visible action. Since the launch, municipal cleaning teams, Expanded Public Works Programme participants, law enforcement officers and volunteers have worked together to address illegal dumping hotspots across George.
Innocentia Sikweyiya, Waste Management Officer from the Garden Route District Municipality, thanked participants for their involvement and reaffirmed the District Municipality’s support for George Municipality’s efforts to eradicate illegal dumping.
George Municipality remains committed to working with communities and stakeholders to build a cleaner, healthier and more dignified environment for all residents.
Residents are reminded to use designated waste disposal services and report incidents of illegal dumping to the Municipality.
For enquiries, contact the Community Services Directorate on 044 802 2900.
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