Our Ward Matters

Months of Hard Work Paying Off – Kruger Bridge Project

From the first week of January 2026, Our Ward Matters, together with Cllr Tanya Rothman and Cllr Jean Keyser, started focusing on the problem areas next to Rustenburg Baptiste Kerk at Kruger and Wildevy Avenue, and later the area opposite Wildevy Centrum near Moepel Avenue.
When we started, Lepelhout Avenue and the surrounding veld were heavily affected by illegal squatting, dumping, overgrown vegetation, public drinking, and criminal activity. Squatters were living against residents' walls, and many residents felt unsafe.

Month after month, we continued pushing forward. Public Safety assisted by removing illegal squatters, while Our Ward Matters kept returning to clean, debush, cut grass, remove dumping, and maintain the areas.

This Sunday, I received a message and video showing RLM and Public Safety (Law Enforcement) hard at work near Moepel Substation. The blue illegal structure is gone, and other structures near the fallen tree and alongside the highway have also been removed.

A special thank you to Jacque from Wildevy Centrum, who sponsored petrol and refuse bags. After a meeting, the OWM team arrived equipped with chainsaws, pangas, brushcutters, and wheelbarrows, ready to assist by removing hiding places, cutting branches, and opening up areas around the bridge.

There is still work to be done. Next to Rustenburg Baptiste Kerk, illegal squatters remain under the large tree, and residents continue to report concerns about drug use and public drinking in the area. We remain committed to protecting our environment, supporting local businesses, and improving the safety of residents.

We would also like to thank Cllr Luan Snyders for stepping in and assisting us in addressing this ongoing issue.
Standing at Kruger Bridge today and looking at both sides of the project fills me with pride. What was once overgrown, hidden, and neglected is now open, visible, and far safer than before.
Consistency. Planning. Taking hands.
That is how real change happens.

"Great things are not achieved in a day, but through people who care enough to keep showing up, keep working, and keep believing that a better community is possible."

Our Ward Matters
André van Dyk
With Cllr Tanya Rothman

Monday, 8th June

Our Ward Matters tackled two key areas in Kremetart Avenue near Manuka Avenue, focusing on the open veld leading towards Kruisbessie and Waterbessie.
The team used brushcutters to clear the overgrown grass while also picking up dumping and litter throughout the veld. We continue to maintain this area for the safety of residents, as overgrown spaces often become hotspots for illegal dumping, criminal activity, and individuals hiding in the reeds and bushes.

This is not a dumping site. We encourage residents to report illegal dumping and suspicious activities when they see it. Together we can protect our environment and keep our communities clean and safe.

A special thank you to RLM Waste Department, who found our team working in the street and assisted by loading the refuse bags. Your support makes a real difference and helps us keep moving forward.

Team Two focused on the corner of Klopper and Koorsboom, where they opened a storm drain and used spades to remove the overgrown grass growing into the road. The team also cut grass around the substation and worked into the surrounding veld.

While the work is not yet finished, the difference is already clearly visible. Step by step, we are restoring these areas and creating safer, cleaner spaces for residents.

Our Ward Matters
André van Dyk
Ilse du Preez
With Cllr Tanya Rothman
RLM Waste Department

Project Civitas – Taking Hands for a Cleaner Community 🤝

Early on Saturday morning, volunteers gathered at the Care Centre in Cuckoo Avenue, ready to make a difference. We were also joined by Natasha Ribeiro from Platinum Weekly, who came to cover the project.

Marli du Plessis and Christel Herbst from the Care Centre, together with their volunteers, joined Our Ward Matters Directors André van Dyk and Ilse du Preez, along with six OWM team members.
Marli opened the morning with prayer, after which we quickly discussed the plan and divided into teams.

Team One focused on picking up rubbish throughout the area, helping to educate and demonstrate the importance of keeping our environment and community clean.

Team Two started painting road markings from Elandsrivier to the STOP street near the Care Centre, making use of the road paint we had available. They also painted street sign poles and STOP signs using a generous donation received for this project.

A special thank you to The Paint Palette for their donation and support, helping us improve the visibility and appearance of the area.

Team Three focused on cutting grass and debushing from the higher sections of Cuckoo Avenue, past Paula's Guest House, and down Tortelduif Street. The team worked on both sides of Tortelduif, improving visibility, enhancing safety, and beautifying the area.

Many residents use this road daily as a shortcut to and from work. By opening up overgrown areas and maintaining visibility, we are helping create a safer environment for motorists, pedestrians, and residents. This is an area we will continue to maintain going forward.
We would also like to thank Cllr Tanya Rothman for arranging a skip through RLM Waste Department. A special word of appreciation goes to Koketso and Brian from the Waste Department for keeping us informed and taking hands with us on a Saturday to ensure a skip was delivered so that branches and rubbish could be removed.

This project did not start on Saturday. In the days leading up to the event, the OWM team, together with Cllr Tanya Rothman, had already been hard at work cutting grass and debushing from Waterberg and Cuckoo, behind Waterfall Mall, through Augrabies and Cuckoo Avenue, down Cuckoo Avenue, and into Elandsrivier. By planning ahead and preparing the area, we were able to make Project Civitas a great success.

While OWM focused on clearing and maintaining the area, Marli and her team focused on picking up litter and teaching the importance of caring for our environment, keeping our neighbourhoods clean, and not littering.

This project showed what can be achieved when community organisations, volunteers, residents, and local government work together towards a common goal.

"A cleaner community doesn't happen by chance—it happens when people care enough to take hands, serve others, and leave every place better than they found it."

(Please note we still waiting for our video that the Care Centre will post and other photos they took...so more posts will pop up 😉
Platinum Weekly Newspaper also took photos and covered the story.)
Care Centre Rustenburg – Project Civitas
Marli du Plessis and Christel Herbst & volunteers
Our Ward Matters Team
OWM Directors
André van Dyk & Ilse du Preez

Thursday, 4th June

Our Ward Matters, together with Cllr Tanya Rothman, tackled Timbati Veld, keeping the grass short, neat, and well maintained. The team also worked at the corner of Nylrivier and Apiesrivier, cutting grass and picking up litter in the area.

Our focus remains on keeping Ward 17 and the Rivers area clean, safe, and beautiful for residents to enjoy.
Regular maintenance prevents overgrown areas from becoming dumping sites, improves visibility, enhances safety, and helps protect the natural beauty of our community.

As petrol prices and other operational costs continue to rise, we need your support more than ever. Every donation helps us continue maintaining our Wards and making a visible difference.
Together we can keep our community clean, safe, and beautiful.

Our Ward Matters
André van Dyk
Ilse du Preez
With Cllr Tanya Rothman

Wednesday, 3rd June

Our Ward Matters continued working in Cuckoo Avenue as part of our preparations leading up to the community project with the Care Centre on 6 June.

Over the past few days, the team has been hard at work from Waterberg Avenue, the corner of Waterberg and Cuckoo, and the road island at Augrabies and Cuckoo Avenue, continuing down Cuckoo Avenue and into Elandsrivier, ending near Paula's Guest House.

Cllr Tanya Rothman led and supervised the clean-up, ensuring the team continued restoring these important areas for residents. Through cutting grass, debushing, picking up litter, and opening up neglected spaces, we are creating a cleaner, safer, and more beautiful environment for everyone.

This Saturday we will continue with the remainder of Cuckoo Avenue and Tortelduif Street, and we invite residents to support this ongoing effort.
To keep these clean-ups going, we need:
⛽ Petrol
🗑️ Heavy-duty refuse bags
🌿 Brushcutter line
🔧 Funds for maintenance and servicing of equipment

We have recently repaired several brushcutters, but ongoing maintenance remains essential if we are to continue making a difference in our communities.
Every donation, no matter how small, helps us keep moving forward.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support Our Ward Matters and believes in building a cleaner, safer Rustenburg.

Our Ward Matters
André van Dyk
With Cllr Tanya Rothman

Tuesday, 2nd of June

Our Ward Matters was opposite BP Safari today, continuing our clean-up efforts in the Helen Joseph area.
The team started by cutting the grass in the open space and around the road island as you turn left into Arend Road from Helen Joseph. Using spades, we removed the sand and grass growing around the island and gave the entire area a much-needed makeover.

The team also debushed and picked up rubbish from Bergbos Clinic towards BP Garage, while on the Helen Joseph side we continued cutting grass against the houses, opened a storm drain, and debushed moving towards the bridge.

These are areas hundreds of residents use daily, and step by step the visible difference in Helen Joseph is becoming remarkable.

Tomorrow, when driving to work or dropping your children off at school, take a moment to look at the amazing progress and positive change that has been made so far.
Please continue supporting our community clean-ups so we can keep restoring and maintaining our beautiful town.

Our Ward Matters
André van Dyk
With Cllr Tanya Rothman

When we arrive for a clean-up and find Wouter from Vista Café already walking around Wildevy Centrum with a picker and refuse bag picking up rubbish that is what community spirit and leadership looks like.

The amazing thing about positivity and visible change is that it inspires others to care, to get involved, and to take pride in their surroundings.

What started as clean-ups and restoring neglected spaces is slowly creating a culture where people want to protect and keep their community clean.
Today we brought back-up for Wouter and together cleaned the whole area around Wildevy Centrum.

I also want to take a moment to thank everyone for the kind messages, encouragement, and support we receive daily. Sometimes a simple message reminds us why we continue doing this work.

Together we can accomplish so much more.
Together we can create cleaner, safer, and more beautiful communities.

Our Ward Matters
André van Dyk
With Cllr Tanya Rothman

For months the open velds at Wildevy and Kruger Street on both sides of Kruger Bridge have remained one of our main focus areas. Even while we continue working in other Wards and areas, we keep returning to maintain the project we started because we care deeply about the safety, environment, and future of this community.

Some illegal squatters have left or been removed over the past few months, but new challenges continue to arise. There are now more individuals living in the area with no intention of leaving. Against the N4 there is ongoing dumping, rubbish scattered throughout the veld, and even new illegal structures being built. One large tree that fell over is now being used as part of another structure.

Drugs are openly being used in plain sight, there is public drinking, and regular fighting between individuals staying near Moepel Avenue and next to Rustenburg Baptiste Kerk. The corner as you drive into Wildevy Centrum remains a problem area where public drinking continues daily.

Cllr Tanya Rothman arranged a skip through RLM Waste Department which the team fully loaded, and we appreciate the support and assistance from RLM.

However, the reality remains that this situation requires urgent intervention. Next to Moepel Substation there is a blue illegal structure and more people moving into the area.
We ask: When will Public Safety and RLM assist us in properly addressing these illegal structures and ongoing squatting?

Some of these individuals genuinely need help, rehabilitation, and social support while criminals taking advantage of these spaces must be removed for the safety of residents, businesses, and the broader community.

Our Ward Matters will continue doing what we can: Cleaning, maintaining, opening up hidden areas, and restoring visibility and safety.
But long-term solutions require all stakeholders to take hands.

Our Ward Matters
André van Dyk
0760571669
With Cllr Tanya Rothman
RLM Waste Department

Taking hands and thinking differently for the future of community clean-ups! ♻️🤝
Not only do we focus on creating a clean and safe environment, protecting nature, inspiring others, and educating residents about illegal dumping we also care deeply about the safety of our communities and residents.

Daleen’s passion for recycling and creative thinking found its way to OWM, and together we are testing new ideas that can improve how we work during our clean-ups.
For normal clean-ups we will still use refuse bags as our team walks through streets and open spaces picking up rubbish. But when we have a skip on site, these reusable bags can become a great tool for separating garden refuse, dumping, glass bottles, plastics, cans, and recycling materials.

Different colours can even be used for different waste types:
♻️ Plastic
♻️ Glass
♻️ Cans
♻️ Garden refuse
♻️ General dumping

This could help our teams recycle more effectively and even create opportunities for team members to earn something extra through recycling initiatives.
We also now have a huge reusable bag for larger loads and next week we’ll put everything to the test and see how well it works in the field!

Daleen also designed a bag pack for our team members to carry PPE, clothing, and equipment, while the apron design helps protect members using the brushcutters during clean-ups.

I come up with ideas, and Daleen designs and creates them for OWM that’s what taking hands is all about..and she is so creative and thinks of things we need for clean-ups that never crossed my mind.
This is Talent.

We absolutely love the designs and cannot wait to test the aprons and bags next week during our clean-ups.
Together we continue building cleaner, safer communities while also thinking about smarter recycling and sustainable solutions for the future.

Taking hands is the way forward. 💙
Our Ward Matters
André van Dyk
Daleen Fourie ( Recycling designer )