AfriForum’s Kempton Park branch on 29 May 2018 launched a long-term recycling project as part of the organisation’s Our Town campaign. This project is implemented in cooperation with M.E.S. (Mould, Empower and Serve), a non-profit organisation focusing on job creation for homeless people in Kempton Park. This project will be rolled out over the next 12 months in gated communities and local schools in Kempton Park.
The local AfriForum branch already in 2017 identified the need for a recycling project in this town. After various meetings with M.E.S. as well as the Chairpersons of the various gated communities, the first recycling units were placed in Van Riebeeck Estate. Additional units will monthly be placed in other gated communities and at schools. The M.E.S. management will remove rubbish weekly and the compensation received for the recycling will be used to create jobs for homeless people in Kempton Park.
“The recycling units are drums that were specially designed to be both aesthetic and environmentally friendly. This project is unique in our area and we hope to also extend it to other towns on the East Rand,” says Gerald Britt, Chairperson of the Environmental Affairs portfolio of AfriForum’s Kempton Park branch.
“This project not only merely plays an important role in recycling and the promotion of a clean environment; the job creation that will hopefully result from this will also help limit the crime rate,” adds Aloma Swanepoel, Spokesperson of M.E.S.
“The project is an excellent example of community members and organisations that are acting proactively to make their towns cleaner and safer,” concludes Marie Naude, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Gauteng South.
Contribute to your cleaner and safer town: SMS “Herwin” to 45342 (R1).