July 14, 2003
By Tendai Dhliwayo
A PROJECT to clean up the worst hit dumping spots in Alexandra was launched on Friday with much song and dance - and hard work - in a joint operation between the City authorities and a community theatre group.
Project Ubuhle bemvelo (the beauty of nature), highlighting the problem of illegal dumping and sprucing up the littered areas, was launched by the Trash Truck team, with Pikitup, the City's waste management utility, and with the City of Johannesburg's Region 7 management team.
Trash Truck is an education programme run by the Sibikwa Community Theatre Group, which uses music, dance and theatre to inform and raise awareness of environmental issues.
Friday morning saw a convoy of five refuse trucks snaking its way along the roads of Alexandra, headed for some of the dirtiest spots in the township. On board were a team of actors, community workers and 28 prisoners doing community service - all prepared to impress on the residents the need to clean up the areas and celebrate the somewhat hidden beauty of the surroundings.
The Trash Truck group roamed around Alexandra picking up rubbish and cleaning several of the worst spots for illegal dumping.
At the end of a long and tiring morning the group stopped in an open field and put on a theatrical performance for a crowd of school children still on holiday and other curious residents, conveying the message that "cleaning can be fun and beneficial".
"Sibikwa's Trash Truck is thrilled to be linked with Region 7's project Ubuhle bemvelo. Our objectives are the same - a cleaner and healthier environment," said Trash Truck Project co-ordinator, Thandi O'Hagan, at the end of the hectic, but fun-filled morning.
