Piles of rubbish once took up so much room in the walkway that children on their way to school had to queue before running past it.
There was everything in there, from nappies to dead animals – and live rats.
Now Gugulethu community members have transformed the passageway between two houses from an illegal dumping site to a clean walkway, and named it Ithemba.
Xolile Ndzoyi, an activist in Cape Town, said Nobantu Primary learners used the walkway as a shortcut to school.
“The community mobilised and started cleaning the passage because it was dangerous not only for school kids but to anyone else using the area,” said Xolile.
“Rubbish was piling up and the kids were forced to queue. We couldn’t sit back and just watch it happen.”
Xolile said people staying next to the walkway couldn’t open their windows or doors because of the unbearable smell.
“We have named it the Ithemba Walkway which gives hope to the Gugulethu community,” he said.
“We will use the walls to place names of people who played a role in Cape Town and the world. We will have inspirational quotes from famous people and put their images and countries on the wall. We want the place to attract tourists.”
He said everyone has a bad story to tell about the dumping site – and it is not the only one. They are encouraging people to clean illegal dumping sites and stop waiting for the government to do it.
“We need to work with passionate people with a positive approach and have proposed solutions to turn rubbish into money.”
Nandipha Ngece didn’t believe they could transform a dumping site into the beautiful place it is today.
“Young people now stop and take pictures. We will keep the place clean. We will never allow anyone to dump rubbish there again,” said Nandipha.
Pictured above: Xolile Ndzoyi standing in the walkway they cleaned after it was used as an illegal dumping site. The community now walks freely and take beautiful pictures
Image Credit: Buziwe Nocuze
