Community takes trash problem into own hands

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Fatlhogang Primary School Principal Linda Mahlangu said she hoped the campaign would inspire her community to do the same (File photo)

In June, Ourhealth reported illegal dumping sites near Refentse and Fatlhogang primary schools. Heaped with rotting food, dirty nappies and even dead animals, the trash piles posed a health risk to local children who often played near them.

Recently, neighbours rallied together to clear the trash pile alongside Refentse Primary School after two elderly residents broke their legs while trying to cross the mess.

“We have reports of two elderly people who slipped and broke their legs while they were trying to cross over these dirty drains with slippery sand inside,” said community leader France Mathibela. “It is our duty as youth in this community to protect our elderly people by preserving the environment and making it clean.”

Recycler Lucky Lwandle also fell while trying to push his trolley filled with recyclables across the rubbish.

“I am very happy to see our people cleaning the garbage,” he told OurHealth.

Fatlhogang Primary School Principal Linda Mahlangu said she hoped that the campaign would serve as a warning about the dangers of littering and hoped that residents near her school would be inspired to do the same. The New Stand community has not yet come forward to clean the illegal dumping site that borders Mahlangu’s school.

Mathibela indicated that he will also engage with the community of New Stand to urge them to consider cleaning the garbage near Fatlhogang Primary School. – Health-e News.