Nompumelelo cleans up for Madiba

Nompumelelo residents have honoured former President Nelson Mandela by cleaning up their township in response to a call for people to do 67 minutes of community service on Mandela Day.

Community members came out in droves yesterday morning to pick up rubbish.

One of the organisers, Pumzile Mpangalala, said that because the area had lots of shacks, it had become so dirty that it was unhealthy.

“This is not political; we wanted to get the community involved in something good. This clean-up has been in the pipeline for Nompumelelo, Kwezana and Mzamomhle, and here we are cleaning up in Nompumelelo,” Mpangalala said.

Asakhe Ngobe, who was piling up refuse bags on the side of the road, said she was very happy about the clean-up.

“There was a terrible stench here, but now because of the clean-up it is going to be better,” said Ngobe.

“ Even our children are going to have places to play, because all the spaces that were full of rubbish will now be able to be used as playgrounds. I am glad that I contributed to something that Madiba wanted.”

Another resident, Thandile Konwayo, said the clean-up would have a positive impact on the community.

“I am very happy. The rubbish was not good for our children because it made it easy for them to get sick, but now there is a bit of change,” said Konwayo.

“This is an improvement that our children can enjoy. I also want to say happy birthday to Nelson Mandela because it is thanks to him that we are here today.”

Mpangalala added: “We also want to say happy birthday to Madiba. We want to do exactly what he was fighting for, and that is to give a better life to all.”

(This story is courtesy of The Dispatch. Used with permission.)