MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "The idea was simple: let's unite, clean up and show the world that KwaNonqaba is full of life, pride and good people."
These were the words of Walter Blaq, a KwaNonqaba resident, community activist, podcaster and the driving force behind the Visit Kwa Clean-up Campaign that saw four skips of rubbish removed on 19 October.
Blaq only started planning the campaign four days before the actual event, but was able to garner support from the Mossel Bay Municipality, KwaNonqaba residents and a few residents from the greater Mossel Bay area.
When it came down to starting to clean up, over 60 people gathered at the Barcelona Circle in KwaNonqaba, volunteering their morning under the warm Mossel Bay sun to take care of the place they love the most: their home town.
The clean-up took place at the grounds just opposite Barcelona Circle, below several informal structures.
Mossel Bay Advertiser asked where the inspiration for the clean-up came from, and Blaq said it was from the love for KwaNonqaba and the people who live there.
The Visit Kwa Clean-up Campaign's creator, Walter Blaq, picks up some waste in the area as a volunteer points to another spot that needs to be cleaned. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse
"For too long, when Mossel Bay is shown online or in the media, our side only appears when there's bad news. So instead of complaining, we decided to do something positive that changes how people see our home," he said.
"Seeing so many people come together, from kids to elders, made me realise that the spirit of KwaNonqaba is alive.
"People came together, worked as one, and showed pride in their community. That kind of energy doesn't fade; it inspires others to do the same."
When asked if he would be planning another clean-up soon, he said the community had already asked for one, and he now wants to make it a regular initiative under the slogan 'Visit Kwa'. He added that he wanted to expand the campaign and create school programmes in the near future.
Volunteers busied themselves with the clean-up on Sunday morning, 19 October. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse
The Mossel Bay Municipality, which collaborated with Blaq on the campaign, said some municipal environmental health officials had conducted a door-to-door awareness campaign in Barcelona on Friday 17 October, focusing on messages such as the dangers of illegal dumping, the importance of community participation in clean-up efforts, the correct use of the municipal three-bag waste system and marketing of the Visit Kwa Clean-up Campaign.
The municipality said it provided extensive logistical support for the clean-up, which included refuse bags, gloves, masks and waste removal via a municipal refuse truck and team.
"In total, four skips of waste were cleared - highlighting both the scale of the challenge and the impact of co-ordinated action," it said.
KwaNonqaba residents Chumisa Dyabaza, Walter Blaq and Theo Vundisa at the Barcelona Circle just before the start of the clean-up. Photos: Chelsea Pieterse
Read the municipality's full statement below:
"The Mossel Bay Municipality recently conducted two focused clean-up initiatives - one in the residential area known as Barcelona as part of a community collaboration, and the other a weeklong project in De Bakke - as part of its ongoing commitment to a cleaner, healthier environment for all residents.
Kwa Clean-Up
The Mossel Bay Municipality waste management teams conduct ongoing educational programmes among all residents – focusing on specific hot spots through street and door-to-door campaign. Walter Blaq’s initiative of taking community action, is a directly in line with not only the municipality’s GROW strategy – grow environment – which focuses on healthier environments for all residents; but also gives tangible expression to the desired outcome of waste management education conducted by the municipality.
A group photo of most of the volunteers who participated in the clean-up. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse
Partnership for the community-initiated clean-up was secured on Wednesday, 15 October. Municipal Environmental Health Officials conducted a door-to-door awareness campaign in Barcelona on Friday, 17 October.
The campaign focused on key messages: the dangers of illegal dumping, the importance of community participation in clean-up efforts, correct use of the municipal three-bag waste system – and included marketing the Kwa Clean-Up of Sunday, 19 October.
The municipality provided extensive logistical support for the clean-up, which included refuse bags, gloves, masks, and waste removal via a municipal refuse truck and team. Additionally, ten workers from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) cleaning contractor were deployed on Sunday to assist. Four municipal staff members were on-site to ensure all collected waste was removed efficiently.
In total, four skips of waste were cleared - highlighting both the scale of the challenge and the impact of coordinated action. Residents of Barcelona are reminded that waste collection in the area takes place every Thursday.
Formal households are encouraged to place refuse bags on the sidewalk, while residents in informal areas should use the nearest formal street or skip for disposal.
Simphiwe Chap gathers some waste during the Visit Kwa Clean-up Campaign. Photo: Chelsea PieterseThe municipality thanks Walter Blaq for his initiative and welcomes all community-initiated projects supporting the war against waste, who they will gladly partner with on such projects.
De Bakke clean-up
This week, a weeklong clean-up project was successfully implemented in De Bakke. Approximately 25 EPWP workers participated, including members of the “Working for Coast” initiative and municipal EPWP teams.
Unlike the Kwa Clean-Up earlier this year, this project was pre-scheduled as part of the municipality’s routine cleaning programme.
These sustained efforts form part of Mossel Bay Municipality’s broader strategy to enhance environmental management, engage communities, and promote long-term cleanliness across all residential areas. The municipality encourages all residents to play their part in maintaining a clean and healthy environment. When we work together, we don’t just clean our streets - we build a community we can all be proud of."
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