New mayor, DA provincial leader launch clean-up campaign
DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga has challenged newly elected Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Retief Odendaal to prove to residents that they “get things done”, starting at the weekend in Kariega, where they began a clean-up of the once pristine “Garden Town”.
The clean-up initiative was part of its Heritage Day celebrations on Saturday.
Addressing party and community members outside the town hall, Bhanga said the living conditions of the people of the Bay were about to change after the party took the helm last week.
“Retief is a humble man of integrity who understands the mandate,” Bhanga said.
“He will lead the people regardless of the colour of their skin. As I was driving from Walmer to here, all traffic lights were off.
“We are not going to take a year to repair the traffic lights.
“We will also ensure that within a short time potholes are filled.
“These are important things which directly affect the people in the communities.”
An invitation to the drive was also extended to the city ’ s parks and cemeteries department, which was honoured by Elva Mbejeni.
“Kariega was known as the garden town and we appreciate any initiative that has to do with the cleaning of our town,” Mbejeni said.
The first instalment of the clean-up started in the central business district area, where flowers were planted, and the plan is to spread the project to other places in the town.
Odendaal said he accepted Bhanga’s challenge, but the traffic lights posed a different challenge.
“The filling of potholes is certainly achievable,” he said.
“However, when it comes to the traffic lights problem due to vandalism and cable theft, we need to find a sustainable solution.
“In certain instances and I’m almost scared to even say it, but we are going to have to rather install traffic circles if we can’t find a solution for cable theft because we can’t keep spending R200,000 per intersection every time theft occurs.”
Odendaal said as part of trying to keep the city clean, the party would mobilise civic society to join the cause by taking charge of their communities.
“This initiative is to bring dignity back to Kariega,” he said.
“We picked up rubbish and planted flowers to beautify the area and this will be an ongoing initiative and we will be cleaning other areas as well.”
‘We are not going to take a year to repair the traffic lights. We will also ensure that within a short time potholes are filled. These are important things which directly affect the people in the communities’