Clean-up spirit among communities spread ing all over

COMMUNITIES affected by the recent civil unrest are leading from the front in cleaning up shopping centres that were looted and burnt.

Almost 200 of these establishments were affected countrywide, leaving 800 stores with damage that could cost billions of rand to repair.

Disheartened community members in parts of KwaZuluNatal and Gauteng this week joined forces with the cleaning companies and employees of these shops to assist them to restore the buildings to their former state.

Nokuhle Dladla, the secretary of the Makgetha community forum in Senaoane, Soweto, was among the several volunteers participating in the clean-up operation. She said she was heartbroken with what had transpired and wished that the malls were spared the wrath of the looters as this would only come back to haunt the community.

“What happened here is very heartbreaking and has badly affected the community. I first saw the looting on TV, and it really broke my heart as a resident, and that is why I decided to come and volunteer once things had calmed down. I’m not expecting anything from the mall or shops' management. I’m just doing this out of my own free will. This will benefit me in future,” said Dladla.

Another volunteer, Sonto Malinga, said: “This is our mall, and we buy things here, so we want to help clean it up so that it can reopen as soon as possible. We cannot afford to go to Lens (Lenasia) to buy basic goods, that would be too expensive. Imagine only having R300 to buy basic necessities. That means I will need an extra R22 for taxi fare, and I will be forced to subtract it from the initial amount, and then I would have to leave other things behind.”

The clean-up spirit spread out like wildfire as other townships started their own operations as well, prompting community leaders from various communities to also take part.

Mary Gortti-Zimbo, the Ward 20 community leader in Sebokeng in the Vaal, joined her neighbours at Palm Springs Mall. She said she wanted to instil values of great leadership in the community.

“As a leader, I cannot just sit and fold my arms while the people clean. What would that say about me as a leader? I have to take part and lead by example.”

A store manager at Protea Gardens Mall said she was grateful to community members who offered to help as the recent events did not only affect the store employees but the community as a whole. She said the store would take a while before it reopens because of the extent of the damage.

“The volunteers have been so helpful they have been with us since Sunday when we started cleaning. Although they said they do not expect anything from us, to show our gratitude for their kindness, we let them keep whatever damaged items such as tiles, ceilings and other materials that they feel they will be able to reuse,” said Neli Masango.