Community, business and volunteers clear litter from key Randburg intersection
Labourers and volunteers spent a Saturday morning clearing litter at the corner of President Fouché and Witdoring roads in Sonneglans, in a Restore Sonneglans effort led by residents and backed by Community Heroes Randburg. The operation on 19 September saw 11 labourers joined by local volunteers, who filled numerous refuse bags that were left on the verge for collection.
The clean-up was co-ordinated by residents with practical support from nearby businesses. Randburg Rentals acted as a contact point and supplied litter pickers through Vernalee Meintjes, who helped lead the effort. Community Heroes Randburg founder Nikki Belt highlighted the physical effort involved and the importance of local people having a way to participate.
“Every bag filled took someone’s effort,” said Nikki Belt. “The bending, picking up, carrying and gathering deserve recognition.”
Local firms provided essential in-kind support that kept the morning running: security was handled by SB Security and Sun Secure with Westley Wynne; water was supplied by Aquo and Belinda; Del Forno Bromhof provided refreshments for volunteers; Meridian Realty and Mandy Allan supplied gloves and bags; and Whole Earth Recycling contributed refuse bags. Additional help came from Helen McKane of Life with Helen and Dogs, The Next Chapter with Nikki Belt, Unique Techniques, Brian Can Help for transport and Terry Rowe and Alison Laxton as sponsors.
- Practical supplies: litter pickers, gloves, refuse bags
- Logistics and transport: volunteers and donated vehicle time
- Volunteer welfare: water and refreshments
- Security: local private security companies
The morning underlined how small contributions from different quarters can combine to deliver visible improvement. “We can care about the same place and bring different things to its care,” Belt said, adding that an hour of a resident’s time can pair with a business’s offer of supplies to make the project possible.
For residents living close to busy intersections like President Fouché and Witdoring, such clean-ups have a practical value beyond aesthetics: clearer verges reduce fire risk from dry litter, make pedestrian movement safer and signal active neighbourhood stewardship to passers-by. Volunteers also said the event helped build local connections and encouraged neighbours to be more vigilant in reporting dumping or repeated littering.
Community-led clean-ups are not a substitute for municipal services, organisers acknowledged, but they send a message about local willingness to maintain shared spaces while calling for regular removal of the collected waste. Bags gathered during the morning were left on the verge for scheduled municipal collection.
| Organisation/Person | Type of support |
|---|---|
| Randburg Rentals (Vernalee Meintjes) | Event co-ordination, litter pickers |
| SB Security & Sun Secure (Westley Wynne) | Security |
| Aquo & Belinda | Water |
| Del Forno Bromhof | Refreshments |
| Meridian Realty & Mandy Allan | Gloves and bags |
| Whole Earth Recycling | Refuse bags |
| Brian Can Help | Transport assistance |
| Helen McKane, The Next Chapter, Unique Techniques | Labour/support |
Organisers said they hoped the Restore Sonneglans exercise would inspire similar actions across Randburg wards, and that residents would stay involved in keeping the area tidy between larger clean-up days. The event also offered a model of cooperation between small businesses, civic volunteers and community groups to keep public spaces in better condition.
Neighbours interested in joining or organising future clean-ups were advised to contact Community Heroes Randburg for co-ordination and to explore how local businesses can partner to provide supplies and welfare support.
