The Netreg train station and Netreg park no longer look like landfill sites after a community clean-up.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, (PRASA), the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), the Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies (BWL), and the Joint Peace Forum (JPF) all got stuck into the clean-up on Saturday July 7, from 10am to 2pm.
BWL chairwoman, Soraya Salie, said the initiative was more than just about picking up litter, it was about creating peace, one neighbourhood at a time.
“Peace is not achieved by one individual or by one country or a corporation, but rather it is achieved by the combined efforts of everyone, the efforts of the global family on this earth like yourself.
“For the rest of our lives, let us commit to the cause of world peace, the work that will be remembered in history forever. Let us achieve world peace and leave it as a legacy for the future generations,” she said.
Many of the residents came out to help, including about 300 children.
Ms Salie said the volunteers had found all sorts of rubbish, including copper, that had been burnt near a wall in the area.
“This is what the gangsters burn in that corner and that wall was so black already; we just gave it a fresh coat of white paint, and it looks better already.”
She thanked all the community groups in the area that had taken part.
“Let us work together to restore the pride and dignity of the community that we live in,” she said.
Nadia Mayman, a member of the Joint Peace Forum, said residents should take ownership of their community by rebuilding it.
“We are not crime fighters, but we can mobilise the community to start taking their area back by doing small things like this. We are so used to the negative aspects of the area, but there are a lot of people who wants to be good,” she said.
“We need to take pride in our surroundings and hopefully this has helped to get the message out there that Bonteheuwel wants peace, and we want to live in a safe environment. Our aim is to have more events like this all over in Bonteheuwel.”