- Declaration of a Nationwide Clean-Up Day: President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to officially declare a national clean-up day, aiming to mobilize communities across South Africa for collective environmental action.
- Purpose of the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign: This initiative seeks to revitalize public spaces through community engagement, improved service delivery, and infrastructure repair, especially in areas affected by urban decay.
- Scope and Long-Term Goals of the Campaign: The campaign includes activities like street cleaning, pothole repairs, and infrastructure modernization, aiming for sustainable, long-term improvements in public hygiene and safety.
A nationwide clean-up day will soon be officially declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced during a visit to the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State.
The announcement comes as part of the growing momentum behind the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign—a national initiative focused on revitalizing South Africa’s public spaces through community action, basic service delivery, and infrastructure repair.
“We’ll dedicate time on the day that the President will indicate. At least for that day, during certain hours, we’ll work with our communities and clean,” Mashatile said while engaging residents and local officials in Bloemfontein.
The campaign, first launched in Kliptown, Soweto, in June, brings together citizens and all levels of government to create cleaner, safer, and more functional environments—particularly in areas hit hardest by urban decay and poor service delivery.
Tuesday’s Free State activation was themed “Bontle Ke Botho: A Free State that works for all – Building clean and sustainable communities,” reinforcing the goal of long-term impact, not just one-day efforts.
“We’re not just picking up papers,” Mashatile said. “This campaign is also about fixing potholes, repairing roads, modernising infrastructure, and addressing the root causes of poor hygiene in our towns.”
The Clean Cities and Towns Campaign also includes weekly clean-up efforts, school visits to promote hygiene habits among children, and collaboration with local municipalities that often struggle due to limited resources.
“Some municipalities can’t perform critical services because they don’t have a strong economic base,” Mashatile acknowledged, adding that the national campaign offers a united front to help struggling areas reclaim pride in their public spaces.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to tackle environmental challenges, encourage social unity, and create sustainable jobs—all while improving the lived experience in both urban and rural areas.
Bins will be reintroduced, regular collection services reinstated, and residents encouraged to take ownership of their neighborhoods once more.
The campaign aligns with South Africa’s climate action goals and underlines government’s pledge to improve service delivery through visible, practical steps that benefit communities directly.
With a national clean-up day on the horizon, all eyes will be on how citizens, leaders, and local officials come together to restore dignity, order, and hope one street at a time.
