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GEORGE NEWS - Over the weekend of 16 and 17 May, a strong sense of unity and resilience was on display in George as residents, neighbourhood watches, businesses and the George Municipality joined forces in a major clean-up effort following the recent storms.
The Camphersdrift, Glen Barrie and Heatherlands (CGH) Neighbourhood Watch, one of several groups driving the initiative, rallied community members to collect storm debris and fallen tree branches across the affected suburbs.
Troy Lewis, chairperson of the CGH Neighbourhood Watch, expressed his appreciation for the overwhelming response from residents and local businesses, saying: "It's amazing to see how many have come out to support this initiative."
Clarens Dube (on the back), Petro Mtetho Madlokazi and Moses Mlombi off-load some tree branches for processing. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel
A large-scale clean-up operation took place in George Street in Blanco, where a team from a local construction company joined the efforts with about 60 workers. Several local businesses also contributed by providing machinery, chainsaws and other essential equipment to speed up the process and improve safety.
Local construction company workers cleared up the fallen trees in George Street, Blanco, on Saturday 16 May. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel
A clean-up project in George South, organised by ward councillor Sean Snyman, saw a wood chipper deployed to the corner of Union and Mitchell streets. The equipment assisted the volunteers and teams as they processed large volumes of fallen branches and green waste collected throughout the area.
The Blanco South Neighbourhood Watch was actively seen on the ground, assisting with the clearing of streets and supporting the ongoing efforts to restore access and safety in residential areas. Their presence added further momentum to the co-ordinated community response.
A group from the Blanco South Neighbourhood Watch during the operations. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel
Throughout the weekend, over 100 volunteers worked tirelessly across multiple suburbs. From organised groups to spontaneous community participation, the residents came together to make a tangible difference in the storm's aftermath.
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