Mayor launches intensive clean-up campaign

THE NEWLY-elected Sol Plaatje executive mayor, Patrick Mabilo, launched an intensive two-week clean-up campaign yesterday, which he has promised will start restoring the city’s sparkle.

Graders were sent to clean up litter and rubbish in Galeshewe while Mabilo, along with a group of councillors, visited sites in Homevale where overflowing sewage is a severe bone of contention.

Mabilo said that council would immediately address the bad smell emanating from the rivers of raw sewage flowing in the area and would then suction out the spillage.

“The problem is due to aging infrastructure and pipes that need to be replaced. Citizens have a right to fresh, clean air and they have been exposed to this health hazard for an unacceptably long time. Preventative maintenance will be more cost effective than taking reactionary steps,” said Mabilo.

He stated that the 14-day intervention programme, which will include clean-ups, sanitation work and tackling electricity theft, would continue throughout the city and at taxi ranks.

“We will send out teams to clean the streets, fix up potholes and attend to the water leakages. Although there is a limited budget we will have to do more with less by prioritising resources. We, however, request the community to do their part by refraining from littering and dumping and cultivating a culture of taking pride in the city so that it can sparkle again.”

Mabilo added that Expanded Public Works Programme projects would be co-ordinated to ensure maximum effectiveness.

“The clean-up campaign started in Ritchie last week during the shutdown to repair the Ritchie water treatment plant. JoJo tanks were provided so that residents had access to water. We also visited asbestos houses with a view to remedying it in the medium to long term.”

Inspections will also be conducted at the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Plant, the Gogga pump station, Riverton and the Nobengula stormwater project.