On a soggy Saturday morning, about seven of us Morningsiders piled into a couple of cars and set off to Munsieville to see what could be done about a previously identified rubbish problem. There is an illegal dumping site beside one of the area’s active soup kitchens which feeds 300 people twice a week. The flies, drawn to the location by the rubbish heap, are a health hazard and so a formal waste management system is much needed. The Rotary Club of Morningside, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Krugersdorp as well as Magole City’s new Mayor and the relevant Ward Councillor, have teamed up to see what can be done.
A Quick Pit Stop: Tower of Life
On route, those in President, Les Hudson’s car stopped off at Tower of Life Men’s Shelter to drop off some donated linen. A very big thank you goes to Kate Dempsey for her generous donation of high-quality, guest house linen. We filled two cars when we collected pillows, blankets and duvet covers and by the time we left neither driver could see through the back windscreen. After off-loading Les’s car, we strolled around the edge of the property and took some encouraging photos of the shelter’s food garden, which we had previously helped to set up.
It was then onto Munsieville, an under-privileged multiracial community outside Krugersdorp. In the past year we have supported the locals with food parcels and seedlings, but we are now turning our attention to their waste management problems.
The plan is to clear the illegal dumping site beside Elize’s Soup Kitchen facility and install a proper waste management site as well as a sustainable food garden built to withstand heavy storms (seeing as our previous efforts were washed away).
Michael Thorresson came along with his father Gary armed with a drone to take some aerial shots but high winds held him back. They were nevertheless referred to as the US Airforce by some of the bystanders.
We met with the Mayor of Magole City, Tyrone Gray, suitably attired in blue overalls, and ready to get stuck in. Gray was enthusiastic about the project and willing to direct his municipal resources to ensure it succeeded.
Also there to meet us was the ward councillor Thapelo Thusi and some of his colleagues as well as members of the community development corps. Councillor Thusi was determined to make sure the community buys into the project.
The Mayor invited us to a follow-up meeting at his offices on Thursday 10 February 2022 where we will take the plans further.
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