Municipality and residents join hands

ABERDEEN NEWS - One of Aberdeen's smallholding residents decided to clean the wayside of the surrounding area on Workers' Day.

Sherwin du Plessis, freshly released from prison, is making a difference in his immediate surroundings, because, "I have learned my lesson - there is no employment for me, but breaking in and stealing because I am hungry is not the only option. It is Workers' Day - today I must start working, then money and means to survive the hunger will follow."

Du Plessis cleared the first stretch in Jackson Street on Friday 5 May. Another resident arranged with local municipal acting area manager, Clive Kombani, for workers to remove the cuttings and refuse in between their normal schedule.

From Tuesday 9 May until Thursday 11, May Mario and his municipal team pitched in with appreciating smiles for Du Plessis' hard work.

Du Plessis' initiative to clean the area sparked eagerness in municipal workers to help. On Monday a whole team started cleaning another section in the area, despite icy cold weather. Residents can't recall the smallholding area of Aberdeen being cleaned like this even once over the past ten years.

Sterna Thwaites, resident and newly elected chairperson of the Aberdeen Tourism Association, gives perspective: "At the moment everything is overgrown since we've had a gloriously wet summer. The municipality has very limited funds and resources, especially for unscheduled cleaning. To us here in the smallholding area, the initiative by an unemployed resident and the spontaneous joining of hands by the municipality is truly a highlight and such an inspiration!"

Photos: Alex Lombaard