Different stakeholders and community members successfully conducted a cleanup operation in Beverly Grove, Ward 39 of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, recently.
The initiative, which focused on clearing overgrown public spaces, brought together local leaders and residents in a collaborative effort to improve the area.
The Democratic Alliance Nelson Mandela Bay office celebrated the event’s success in a statement released afterwards. “We did it! Massive thank you to everyone who rolled up their sleeves and joined us for our community clean-up initiative in Beverly Grove,” the statement read. “We worked together, cleared the debris, and made our community a cleaner place.”
Ward 39 Councillor, Margaret De Andrade, who led the initiative, a new civilian-led movement aimed at transforming Nelson Mandela Bay into South Africa’s tidiest metropolitan area by 2028, expressed her gratitude to participants. “Thank you to this amazing team that assisted in cleaning the Public Open Space across Jackson in Kragga Kamma Ward 39,” De Andrade said. She acknowledged that there was “still lots to do” and confirmed they would “revisit to ensure it’s clear for the municipality to cut the grass.”
De Andrade, who is also part of the TidyNMB initiative, praised the collaborative nature of the event, noting it showed “amazing stakeholders coming together, taking back their suburbs.”
Atlas Security’s Rapid Intervention Unit also participated in the cleanup effort, highlighting their stance on the importance of private sector involvement in community improvement. The security company emphasised the connection between clean neighbourhoods and safety in their own statement.
“At Atlas Security, we believe that a safer neighbourhood is also a cleaner one. Overgrown areas and illegal dumping aren’t just eyesores; they create hiding spots and escape routes for criminals. That’s why we stepped in, not just with patrols, but with hands-on help,” the company added.
The DA indicated that such community partnerships formed part of their broader strategy for the municipality. “The DA will continue to partner with residents and civic groups to take back our municipality and bring back good governance in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality,” their statement concluded.
Similar cleanup efforts were conducted elsewhere in the municipality, with Councillor Roelf Basson and local residents attending to what was described as “a much needed clean up in College Hill and Penford area” in Kariega.
