Chrissiesmeer branch proves that self-management is possible

AfriForum’s Chrissiesmeer neighbourhood team, which was established barely two years ago, has once again proven that self-management is a possibility in this town. One of the ways this branch makes a significant difference every month is by not letting any grass grow under its feet. The branch cut a total of 11 hectares of grass in February.

Millicent van den Heever, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Chrissiesmeer branch, says the neighbourhood team cuts the sidewalks in Bothwell, Carolina, King Edward, Percy, Meyer, Michelle, Campbell, Simmer and Jack Streets every month. Furthermore, all the entrances to the town from Breyten, Ermelo and Carolina were neatly cut.

The neighbourhood team also focused its attention on the Chrissiesmeer cemetery and cut the grass on the site. The team also cleaned the memorial monument, cleared an empty plot next to the post office and launched a project to cut the sites on which the dilapidated tennis courts are located.

“In our small town, which is mainly dependent on tourism, we have a big task to keep the town tidy. If this does not happen, the town’s businesses will suffer,” says Van den Heever.

The branch removed 89 bags of refuse from bins that AfriForum has set up across the town. A total of 174 bags of refuse has been removed from these bins since January. AfriForum also helped by removing all the town’s refuse when the Msukaligwa Local Municipality failed to do so.

“In a town as small as Chrissiesmeer, the difference that AfriForum makes can be seen immediately. It serves as proof that if enough people stand together, self-governance is indeed possible and that residents can function independently,” says Hennie Bekker, AfriForum’s district coordinator for the Highveld.

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