Durban - EThekwini Municipality together with the Transnet National Ports Authority and the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club partnered in a clean-up campaign in the inner city on Friday.
Kaizer Chiefs arrived in Durban before their game in the city this weekend.
EThekwini municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela, in a statement on Saturday, said the clean-up focused on the Marine Museum car park, around the Durban Harbour, and along South Beach.
Mayisela said captain Itumeleng Khune led his team during the campaign, during which they expressed their heartfelt sympathies for the victims of the recent floods.
“As Chiefs players we are very honoured to participate in this clean-up campaign. We saw the floods that caused serious devastation to people and infrastructure, and that was a very unfortunate situation. Today (Friday), I am saying let us all keep Durban clean to minimise waste in our environment and to also attract tourists,” Khune said during the launch of the campaign. Participants carried placards with various messages in support of keeping the beaches clean.
The campaign was led by deputy mayor and chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee, Philani Mavundla, from Marine Museum to the beach.
Mayisela said that with National Marine Week commemorated during the second week of October, the city launched the Marine Walk Campaign in South Beach to create awareness around keeping beaches clean.
“Today’s clean-up campaign aims to fortify the message of keeping our city clean and to create awareness about illegal dumping. Let us not litter in our city, as during the rainy season this waste causes blockages in the stormwater systems. As from today, we must take responsibility for keeping our city clean,” said Mavundla.
Transnet executive manager Nelson Mbatha offered his appreciation to those who participated in the campaign and encouraged residents to keep the city clean to preserve its precious resources.
“We started with the clean-up campaign at the Marine Museum, and now we are launching a marine walk to educate our communities to keep the beach clean,” he said.
Also on Friday, the city's Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit together with the community of ward 99 in eMkhomazi Drift held a clean-up campaign at an illegal dump in the area.
“The illegal dump was an eyesore and posed a health hazard to residents. Illegal dumping has a negative effect, impacting both residents and the environment. Residents are encouraged to follow proper waste management practices, which includes taking out their refuse on scheduled collection days and avoiding illegal dumping,” said the city on its Facebook page.
On Thursday, students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Derby House student residence, in partnership with the city embarked on a clean-up campaign to rid the central business district of litter.
The municipality said the initiative aimed to encourage students and residents to protect the environment by practising proper waste management.
Streets that were cleaned included Derby Street, parts of Gladys Manzi Road and Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street, Cross Street, parts of Johannes Nkosi Street and Ingcuce Street, Ismail C Meer Street, Beatrice Street, Victor Lane, Maud Lane, and Fountain Lane.
“The city asks residents to avoid littering and to adhere to their area’s refuse collection days.”
