MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - An anti-littering campaign is to be launched by the Chairpersons Association, so that the cleanliness of the town can portray that residents are proud of their region.

The Makhado Municipality will be requested to clean up the town and to prevent people from littering.

“We intend a definite plan of action to be realized in a specific time frame. For example, people can at first be requested politely not to litter. Thereafter, fines can be imposed. We have to change the culture,” said Mr André Naudé, Chairperson of the CA at their AGM at Lala-panzi Hotel on July 21.

Mr Peter Menné said that there were not enough litter bins and that some people viewed littering as job creation.

The concern about the state of the public toilets in town was raised by Mr Fritz Ahrens.

Mr Masindi Mapholi, Makhado Municipality’s Director of Technical Services, definitely agreed that the public toilets in town should be upgraded. The functions of waste removal and cleaning up public places have just recently fallen into the lap of his department. He has already attended programmes to be empowered in that regard. Previously health-related matters resorted under the Department of Community Services and was recently moved to the Vhembe District Municipality.

“Vandalism at the public toilets is also a problem. Toilet seats and door locks are stolen. People will have to be educated that public amenities belong to them and they have to look after them,” Mr Mapholi said on Monday. He said that the municipality might provide staff members to lock and unlock the toilets. He further said that, when institutions apply for new developments, they could introduce public toilets as part of their developments.

To keep the town clean is seen by Mr Mapholi as important.

“People are not shy to throw around papers. They eat and just leave their waste,” he said. “We should introduce a campaign and get communities involved. Municipal workers should be deployed at places like taxi ranks and supermarkets.”

Another improvement to the town would be the paving of some intersections and the paving of the whole taxi drop-off zone. These improvements are allocated for the current financial year.