There are many areas in and around Grahamstown that are littered with rubbish. Caught in fences and tangled in bushes, plastic bags, tin cans and empty egg boxes have become part of the scenery.
There are many areas in and around Grahamstown that are littered with rubbish. Caught in fences and tangled in bushes, plastic bags, tin cans and empty egg boxes have become part of the scenery.
While many residents may feel disillusioned by the mess and think there is nothing they can do, there is one person who is determined to clean it up and get Makana Municipality to do the same.
Cecil Solomon lives in Andrew Heemro Street near Mary Waters High School. He has built a one-metre-high triangular steel enclosure outside his house in which he and neighbours from six other houses put their rubbish bags. The enclosure prevents stray animals from tearing the bags open and also makes it easier for municipal workers to collect the refuse because it’s all in one place. It is Solomon’s goal to get the municipality to erect similar structures in neighbourhoods around town.
He believes the municipality, especially the ward councillors, are not doing enough to keep the area clean. "They should go to bed thinking about how to develop, clean and improve our town," he says. "They shouldn’t be in those positions for pleasure."
Solomon says that he does not wish to fight with the municipality but is merely appealing to them to do more. He believes that not only will the enclosures help keep the area clean, but the municipality will require fewer people and less time to collect the rubbish. In addition, if using steel is too expensive, Solomon suggests the municipality erect similar structures using poles and jackal wire.
Municipal media spokesperson, Thandy Matebese says that a few skips have already been placed in various areas in town but that people do not use them or "they throw their rubbish around the containers". He says while Solomon’s idea to erect smaller enclosures around town may work, the municipal budget is limited and they simply cannot afford to build them.
Matebese also says it is impossible to pick up all the loose rubbish lying around as only two municipal workers are assigned to an area. He suggests that, like Solomon, residents should play a part in ensuring that their neighbourhoods are kept clean. "Ideally," he says, "place your refuse bags in a place that is not accessible to animals but is still easy for the workers to get to."
"One person cannot do this by himself," Solomon says. "We all need to take care of our town."
