Central SA
Bloemfontein youth tackle filth, eye tourism boom─── REFILWE BEKANE 08:44 Thu, 26 Jun 2025
A new sense of hope has emerged in Bloemfontein as the People United Movement for Economic Change and Transformation (Pumect) launched a clean-up initiative.
This youth-driven effort, led by Bongekile Novasi and supported by 60 people, aims to restore the city’s cleanliness and enhance its reputation as a travel destination.
The initiative targets illegal dumping and littering across Mangaung, which have been issues for the area. The movement is for creating a future that is tourism-friendly and creating a city that is clean and beautiful, said Novasi.
This movement began as a result of Novasi’s description of “huge negligence in certain areas within Bloemfontein – there was no service delivery over time”.
This has led to awareness campaigns on what the cause of the dirt is and how to combat it.
Community members volunteer to clean
Every Saturday, various members of the community volunteer to meet at a designated spot to clean. Novasi’s diligent investigation revealed that a significant portion of this waste is allegedly generated by spaza shops in the CBD and Hoffman Square areas.
Novasi claimed that the lack of positive results from earlier initiatives to speak with store owners about the unhygienic state around certain places in Bloemfontein led to Pumect planning effectively by involving the municipality for the assistance of service delivery, but it has not been assisted yet.
The project is continuing on Saturday (28/6) with Hoffman Square as a starting point. Photo: Boikarabelo Mosito
To guarantee a change in service delivery and accountability for waste management in certain areas of Bloemfontein, Novasi has laid out detailed strategies to interact with important entities.
Pumect is making a sincere plea to the Bloemfontein community, with about 60 dedicated people currently making up the movement’s core.
More than just a clean-up
They are calling on everyone who can help with simple cleaning supplies or just volunteer their time to step up and help make this important project a success. The project is continuing on Saturday (28/6) with Hoffman Square as a starting point.
This project is more than just a clean-up; it’s a strong declaration of youth empowerment and a group effort to make Bloemfontein a genuinely lovely and hospitable city, said Novasi.
