From shabby to showcase – AfriForum neighbourhood team tackles these five projects for a better Potch
Recycling. Refurbishment. Cleanup. And now even bricklaying, welding, and painting. Armed with these tools, AfriForum’s Potchefstroom neighbourhood team is working and building, at every turn, towards a better and safer Potchefstroom. During July, this team of full-time workers really rolled up their sleeves to transform areas scarred by poor municipal services into a town that can stand proud.
Here are five of the projects undertaken in Potchefstroom over the past month, despite the winter cold:
1. Monday is N12 Day
Every Monday, the AfriForum neighbourhood team tackles one of the most important and busiest routes in Potchefstroom, cleaning areas such as the central medians and gutters along the stretch from Alfa Café to just before the Mooirivier Mall, and from the mall to Trim Park and Homestead Butchery. This project is proudly sponsored by Potchefstroom Geesfees and has become an established initiative that has resulted in a noticeable improvement in the cleanliness of this route.
2. Training
While the town became quieter during the July holidays, the neighbourhood team seized the opportunity to hone their skills. The team underwent training at Laerskool Baillie Park and simultaneously applied these new skills to carry out bricklaying, welding, and painting work at the school.
3. Cemetery project
The deterioration of cemeteries has become an eyesore in almost every corner of the country, and Potchefstroom’s cemetery has not escaped this decline. In July, a family member at their wits’ end approached the AfriForum neighbourhood team to maintain a loved one’s grave; because the JB Marks Local Municipality neglects the maintenance of the site, the team stepped in to spruce up this final resting place. Members of the public are welcome to make use of this service in exchange for a donation to ensure the sustainability of the team’s activities.
4. Cleanup operation
During July, the green belt opposite the Mieder Park Spar on Walter Sisulu Avenue was cleaned up. The grass has been cut, road gutters and stormwater drains have been cleaned, and refuse and grass clippings have been removed.
5. Recycling project
A brand-new recycling competition has just kicked off at three Potchefstroom primary schools: Laerskool Baillie Park, Laerskool M.L. Fick, and Laerskool Mooirivier. These three schools, along with two schools from Rustenburg, will now compete to be named AfriForum’s first “Blink of Stink” champion. The school that collects the most plastic bottles for the recycling project during the campaign will not only claim this title but also win R30 000 in cash.
This competition now ties in with the neighbourhood team’s ongoing recycling project. Through this project, the team has already collected approximately one ton of recyclable material, which ultimately helps to relieve the pressure on the local landfill site.
According to Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Mooirivier, the work performed by the neighbourhood team is essential in the face of urban decay. “Where the municipality fails dismally to maintain our beautiful Potchefstroom, the neighbourhood team steps in to make a tangible difference. However, community support is needed to expand this service. We therefore invite the public to sponsor projects or request quotes for specific tasks, ensuring that the team’s work is not only sustainable but can also expand,” she explains.
Douglas Bourn, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch, agrees – cooperation is key. “We need to take action and fight for our beautiful town, Potchefstroom. Let us all stand together with the new neighbourhood team and ensure that, before long, there are as many as five neighbourhood teams operating in Potchefstroom. We can only achieve this if the community makes use of their services and helps build a better Potchefstroom.”
Get involved and help build a Potch that shines with pride!
Get involved with the Potchefstroom AfriForum branch and neighbourhood watch today, and make your contribution toward building a Potchefstroom that can truly shine with pride. Contact Douglas Bourn (083 232 1020) for a quote if you wish to use the neighbourhood team’s services, and Cornelia Blignaut (073 390 4133) to join the Potchefstroom neighbourhood watch.
