Today in Ngwelezane Ward 27 B Section, just outside the gates of Phesheya Primary School, residents witnessed the start of a transformation. An illegal dumping site that has long been a health hazard and an eyesore is finally being addressed, not by the Municipality as promised, but by the community itself.
Led by Green Chapter Foundation, powered by the financial support of Uthungulu Community Foundation, and joined by CWP (by COGTA KZN), the Adopt-A-Spot campaign kicked off with a clean-up that turned action into hope. This is Day 1 of many, and the campaign will not stop until the space is fully rehabilitated, safe for the learners of Phesheya Primary and dignified for the surrounding community.
Illegal dumping is more than just an eyesore, it’s a direct threat to public health, children’s safety, and community pride. The message from today’s action is loud and clear: Ngwelezane will no longer tolerate littering and illegal dumping. Community members are urged to take responsibility and report those who engage in these destructive practices.
What stood out today was not only the power of collaboration between NGOs and partners but also the absence of the Municipality. Despite promises to attend, the Municipality failed to pitch up. This is concerning because, while illegal dumping is a law infringement issue, it still requires Municipal presence and accountability.
Residents of Ngwelezane pay rates and therefore have a legitimate expectation that verges will be maintained, invasive plants cut back, and public spaces cared for. When communities and NGOs take initiative, the Municipality must show up, support, and partner, not disappear.
The partnership between Uthungulu Community Foundation and Green Chapter Foundation is not a once-off intervention. It represents a growing commitment to ongoing environmental awareness campaigns, advocacy initiatives, and greening programmes across Ngwelezane and beyond.
Adopt-A-Spot at Phesheya Primary School is just the beginning. The commitment is clear: this campaign won’t leave until the space is fully rehabilitated, cleaner, greener, and safer for learners and the broader community.
“This is a journey,” said Mpendulo Mbulawa of Green Chapter Foundation. “Today was Day 1. We will keep returning until this area is restored. Illegal dumping does not belong in our schools or our neighborhoods.”
The takeaway is simple: when communities unite, change is possible. But for Ngwelezane to truly move forward, the Municipality must play its role, because service delivery cannot be selective, and public health cannot be ignored.
