Pensioners do community service with a smile
TWO pensioners, from Delft, who get up at the crack of dawn every morning to clean their streets, said they see it as their community service.
Cedrick Damonse, 62, said that no one has asked him to clean the road or clear the rubbish dump, which used to be in a nearby park.
“I get up at 6 every morning whether it is winter or summer. The park used to be a dump where people used to come and throw their rubbish.
“One day I just decided to clean it. Now the kids in the area can play in the park again. Before it was so filthy in here the children could not play.
“I am a retired truck driver, so I enjoy to get up every morning to clean the road. Sometimes the children also help me. It is just very nice if your community is clean.
“People tell me that I don’t have to do it, but I want to,” he added.
Joseph Saaiman, 70, who is originally from Pacaltsdorp, George, is also a resident of Delft, who keeps his streets clean. “I cannot wait for the council to keep the roads clean. Every morning I get up at 6. The school across the road also has a lot of trees and in autumn this entire road is strewn with leaves, and I clean it up.
“It sometimes takes an entire morning to do it, but once it is cleaned up, the road is tidy again. It is important to live in a clean environment. This is my service to my community.”