Yesterday saw the launch of an exciting clean-up campaign for the town of Colesberg. Inspired and driven by Mrs Vivienne Player, wife of golfing legend, Gary Player, in partnership with the Municipality and Wildlands – a leading environmental non-profit organisation, the project hopes to clean up this hidden gem in the Karoo.
“Every year, thousands of holiday makers make their way through our town on their way to their holiday destinations, many opting to stay over for a day or two,” said Mrs. Player at the launch at Hugo Park yesterday. “Unfortunately, over the last couple of years one can clearly see the increasing amount of rubbish and litter spoiling the image and welcome to our town. I decided enough was enough and it was time to do something about this – so we initiated discussions with the Mayor and Wildlands.”
“The event was aimed at kick starting and mobilising the community around cleaning up their town and recycling,” said Wildlands’ Strategic Manager David Moldenhauer. “The project would not have been possible without a generous donation of R50 000 from The Player Foundation – which was used to purchase grocery vouchers that were handed out to all the helping hands and community members that assisted us in the clean-up operations. It was also fantastic to see the turnout of more than 400 concerned citizens, including local farmers and businesses as well as several dignitaries such as the Honourable Mayor Mr Mzwandile Simon Toto, Ward Counsellors, representatives from the Community Works Programme and Masabalala DTI Group – all willing to do what they can to clean up Colesberg. Local farmers and businesses assisted us with the transportation of recycling while several local schools also got involved namely, Umso High School, Colesberg Primary, Lowryville Intermediate School, SS Madikane Primary School and Colesberg High School. Areas targeted for the clean-up included Lowryville, Kuyasa, Riemvasmaak and central town. All the waste collected will be recycled, and furthermore our recently launched Green Desk Project will see some of this waste transformed into school desks.”
Honourable Mayor, Mr Mzwandile Simon Toto said, “It is such an honour to meet Gary Player for the first time. The municipality believe this is only the start of a long partnership, and we look forward to working with the Players and Wildlands to make Colesberg the best town in the Karoo!”
“This will not be a once off project that gets forgotten in a couple of months but rather an ongoing project. Not only will the clean-up of Colesberg be reborn for all to enjoy but more importantly the development and help to the community will be far reaching,” commented Mrs Vivienne Player.
The long term vision and expansion of a project in Colesberg, simultaneously focused on the upliftment of women and recycling, was made possible through the long-standing Wildlands and Gary Player Invitational partnership. Coca-Cola the presenting sponsor and long-time partner of the charitable golf tournament is committed to giving back to communities and through the GPI initiatives, is able to demonstrate lasting, sustainable and positive change in the quality of life of communities especially women.
Over R1.7 million of the funds donated by The Player Foundation to Wildlands in 2015 through Africa’s premier golf event, was allocated to recycling staffing and logistic costs in both Colesberg and eThekwini. Furthermore, these funds have enabled the expansion of Wildlands’ female Waste-preneur* footprint across all their recycling nodes (Magaliesberg, uMgungundlovu, eThekwini, iLembe, uThungulu, uMkhanyakude, Zululand and Bushbuckridge).
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)