RAISE YOUR HAND LETS SAVE OUR LIVING SPACES!!!
Just a thought that has been ringing robustly in my mind has found an opening hence your reading this article, today. It’s been days, I mean weeks, years I mean…. and today I gave in.
Did Africans learn or benefit anything from colonisation? I overhead one friend asking loudly, and was meant by silence from his mates. Why do we have some within the main discourse argue that the developed African countries and cities is directly linked to the proper management by those that colonised our forefathers? Why…..
My deep internal thoughts are challenged by the practices that defy our existence, early teachings from African homes and society at large. Most of the public spaces that we have occupied in numbers have been reduced to litter dens and rats heaven. I will not describe the daily picture of our mothers who make a routine to offload trash in the pavements, some dare spill the overnight discharge directly at the routes that lead to our tiny tin roofs in the informal spaces we call home in Gauteng.
The practice has now found its way into our rural villages. In my youth teens, you could not separate homes that were poor to those that had, according to the cleanliness. It was common that we all woke up early, cleaned the yard, collected water, our sisters and mothers proudly bare all alongside the rivers while washing and drying our clothes. We jumped into various sites of the river in the name of killing lice’s and keeping clean. One came put looking like a ghost as there was not lotion to apply-yet we were clean.
I live at a farm in my home village, which is 3KM from the village and the route towards my residence is now littered with the modern baby nappy which has replaced the traditional white baby reusable and washable cloth. The route is decorated with white non-degradable brands of nappies from big companies.
My trip to Alexandra township reminded me that the unhygienic pandemic is nationwide. I reside in the west rand, and regularly visit Zandspruit in Honeydew informal settlement-due to business interest. The community has earned a tittle for protesting with litter. Google can confirm your doubts to this statement. One commonality is waste is publicly displayed as if it’s a decorative material.
Our people will dump during that day anything…I mean the refuse hips next to the informal living spaces is a gold mine. From discarded unborn babies, nappies, rotten meat, clothes, food waste, plastics, old beds, children toys can be found. But the one health hazard is the human waste and urine, combined with bath water…if flows in the pavements and pathways as if rains only in that area.
The picture I am painting is not good, or should I say proves that we are not people of excellence. I have not shared how we mistreat the animals. The poorly fed and dogs and cats compete with the cat size rats day and night. Only a few move from place to place with empty buckets collecting waste to feed their pets.
Whilst this picture does not show the talent, creativity and innovation from these places-it’s the lack of playing fields, spaces and parks for recreational purposes that saddens me. The youth, mainly abuse substances in plain school uniform and will not hide it from anyone. Why and who can dare hide in a community where an adult can openly urinate in front of teenagers and feel no shame!!
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Why am I bringing all this to the fore? It’s because the President of the ruling party, or should I say the leading GNU party, the African National congress, has urgent all members of the national executive committee, to behave in all public platforms.
This statement, follows a special NEC Lekgotla by the ruling party leadership. So, I have the following questions to my leaders.
Black people’s lives do matter, and it high time you plan for the next 60 -100 years. The plan that you should work on must have the following:
· Spaces of innovation and excellence where we can produce new ideas and products
· Lead a moral regeneration targeting the living spaces-with hygiene and cleanliness being the focus.
· Sponsor youth that may want to establish educational spaces,
· Lead with excellence.
As a people, we are failing to contribute a mere R10 towards beautifying our living spaces. It’s a crime that we have normalised all the wrongs. Our people will litter with no guilt or shame. The media has failed to challenge some of the bad habits. When we hosted the world cup, the Japanese fans would clean up after the games, that should have been the World Cup Legacy project-not the money being wasted.
The African leader in Rwanda introduced and led with the cleaning days and their country is reaping the rewards. Is it too late for the leading ANC to act and help change the picture of our country? Well the party has million of members, leaders in each community, I am sure they can use their power to change and lead with excellence.
But the my question is to you and me! What are we doing to help transform our country. My hand is raised, and propose we establish a civil organisation that will focus on cleaning our towns, communities and living spaces. You can support me by linking this article and help with ideas on how we can move forward.
By JE Mlambo