City residents encouraged to beautify their communities
The Keep PMB Clean Association (KPCA) is encouraging citizens to take ownership of their local areas and communities.
KPCA chairperson, Lara Edmonds, recently met with members of the association and businesses to design a KPCA street smart approach to reclaim the city street by street, beginning with Victoria Road.
"Businesses have an important part to play when it comes to keeping the streets clean, neat and green," said Edmonds.
"It is in their best interests to have a neat verge or pavement as it creates a good first impression and a safe, attractive space for customers and clients alike.
"The security, property value of the area, and community pride are also incentives for businesses to 'adopt' the spaces around them."
KPCA recently did a photographic tour of Victoria Road and was pleased to see that, since the tour in March, the road is already looking cleaner.
The substation on the corner of Victoria and West streets was of particular concern to KPCA as, not only was it an eyesore, with dumping resulting in a rat and alien plant infestation, but the electrical substation caught fire when the dumped waste was set alight.
"KPCA's mandate is to inspire the Pietermaritzburg community to get involved in the cleaning and beautification of our city.
"Recycling and education around waste is also an important part of our mission. A community is very powerful when they work together on these kinds of projects," said Edmonds.
Edmonds said that once dumping starts it must be dealt with quickly as it is almost like a license for others to start dumping.
"Poor waste management is a great concern with the fire at the substation in Victoria Road illustrating the crisis that results from illegal dumping," said Edmonds.