Lekwa Local Municipality officially marked the successful completion of Operation Shanela Phase 1 in Ward 3, led by MMC for Community Services and Safety, Cllr. Mapaseka Molaba.
The Operation Shanela programme was launched on the 8th September 2025, with the aim of strengthening environmental cleanliness, curbing illegal dumping and encouraging community members to take pride in their surroundings across the municipality. It further seeks to ensure that household waste is managed responsibly and transformed into a resource that benefits the community, rather than contributing to pollution.
In her keynote, MMC Molaba emphasised the importance of community participation in sustaining a clean environment.
“The completion of Phase 1 of the programme does not mark the end of cleaning our communities. It is a milestone of spreading the word to communities to take care of their waste”, she said.
During the ceremony, the MMC also handed over Personal Protective Equipment to participants involved in the programme. The handover symbolised the municipality’s commitment to ensuring that employees have the necessary tools of trade to perform their duties safely and effectively.
Cllr. Molaba also highlighted the next steps of the project, stating, “The rolling out of Phase 2 to rural wards will ensure that our clean-up campaign reaches every corner of Lekwa. We want to empower rural communities with the same awareness. ”
She concluded by thanking all stakeholders for their continued support and active participation.