Viable News Team 
Image Source: GovernmentZA
South Africans, get ready to roll up your sleeves. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to declare an official National Clean-Up Day, with a clear message: A clean South Africa starts with us.
The announcement was hinted at by Deputy President Paul Mashatile during a community visit in Mangaung, Free State, where he launched a major leg of the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign. A project designed to bring together government, communities, and civil society to restore pride and functionality in our public spaces.
“We’re not just cleaning up trash. We’re fixing potholes, reviving infrastructure, and uplifting the spirit of our neighbourhoods,” Mashatile told residents.
What’s It About?
This isn’t just a once-off clean-up. The campaign encourages weekly cleaning events, school-based education drives, and infrastructure maintenance from waste bins to pavements, public toilets, and roads.
Under the theme, “Bontle Ke Botho: A Free State that works for all”, the campaign is as much about pride and participation as it is about waste management.
Mashatile stressed that this is a “whole-of-government” operation, a coordinated effort to ensure even cash-strapped municipalities get the support they need to keep towns clean and operational.
Alongside clean-up drives, the campaign is hitting schools to teach young people about hygiene, environmental care, and civic responsibility.
“We want kids to grow up knowing that cleanliness is not someone else’s job, it’s everyone’s,” Mashatile added.
♻️ Climate, Jobs, and Hope
The campaign also supports South Africa’s climate goals by reducing urban waste, restoring public spaces, and making cities more resilient. It’s tied to broader goals like job creation, poverty reduction, and better service delivery all with cleanliness as the catalyst.
With the official date for National Clean-Up Day expected soon, South Africans are being called to grab gloves, take a bag, and join hands to build cleaner, safer, and more liveable communities.
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