Pic: Supplied
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has embarked on what it said is a major clean-up project help to change the face of Njoli Square in Kwazakhele.
This comes after the metro engaged various stakeholders including the public transport sector, vendors who operate in the area, commuters and concerned residents in an effort to come up with sustainable solutions to end illegal dumping, which is among other concerns, specifically around the taxi rank.
The clean-up programme started on Monday and will continue until Thursday, 20 April 2023.
During his oversight visit, Public Health Mayoral Committee Member, Cllr Thsonono Buyeye said that the municipality had directed resources to focus on Njoli Sqaure.
He said Public would “collaborate with our sister departments including the Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture directorate to implement sustainable solutions to this problem”.
“We are really hopeful that by the end of this week the situation here will be different,” said Buyeye.
He said the metro had partnered with Uncedo Taxi Association as the main stakeholder behind the busy rank and the vendors.
“We know there are women who make a living here but the truth is that the feathers from the chickens they sell, the blood and other dirt is making the area unhealthy to operate in for everyone”.
Buyeye also said some of the issues would be addressed though educational programmes.
NMB’s Uncedo General Secretary Khanyile Royi said as the association they were happy to see work being done to change the face of Njoli Square.
“There are various challenges we are battling with here but we believe this is a good start,” said Royi.
“The illegal dumping was a big problem and while the Municipality has cleaned up before people continued to dump again”.
Buyeye added: “Resources will be delivered to the vendors who operate in the area to ensure that the situation does not go back to how it was before.”
