Step up and help Call-2-Action create a cleaner and greener Buffalo City

If you have been wondering what is on the go with the green shipping containers on the LHS side of the road on Settlers Way as you head to the airport, you need wonder no more.

These containers are in fact the building blocks of the 1st of 4 pilot site offices by The Call-2-Action Group, which was initiated by The Border Kei Chamber of Business & Invest Buffalo City earlier this year, and which comprises of interested local businesses, organisations, BCMM and members of the Public.

The Aim

A Call-2-Action to transform Buffalo City into a Clean and Green, Well Governed and Innovative Metropolitan. As various business and professional associations located within the Buffalo City Metro, we feel it is imperative that our city is kept clean, is well governed and innovative to ensure new as well as re-investment into the city by business.

No longer happy to just sit back and ‘moan’ about the status quo, this pro-active group have got together, rolled their sleeves up and created The Call-2-Action Group. The group comprises of local businesses, organisations, interested members of the general public and the BCMM, collectively working together to effect positive change in our city.

The 4 Pilot Site Offices

The 4 unique pilot site offices will be situated on Settlers Way en route to the Airport, in Southernwood, The Beachfront and on Western Avenue/Oxford Street, and will serve as drop off points for all recyclable waste. These will be built using funds and materials donated by local business, organisations and interested individuals, who want to retain and attract investment and visitors to our city.

The Waste Buy Back Centre

Call to Action has appointed local recycling business, DNF Waste & Environmental Services, as the official recycling company for Call-2-Action, and DNF has implemented a Waste Buy Back Centre in De Beers Road, North End, where the public can take their waste materials and be compensated in return.  The benefit of a centre such as this is that it is creating jobs for the unemployed and cleaning our city at the same time. Local vendor, Zola Tshambu is just one of the many local vendors, making a living while cleaning the city.  He stands next to the DNF Waste Buy Back Ratecard detailing products and pricing paid for waste items.

The Teams

You may not have been aware but there have been teams of hard working, dedicated individuals working in hotspots around our city, cleaning areas that have been neglected for many years.  The Settlers Way Team have done an amazing job of cleaning up the gateway to East London, the route between the Airport and the Buffalo Bridge.  Here are some photographs of the team in action:

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If you happen to be driving along Settlers Way, keep you eye out for them and give them the thumbs up for the amazing work that they are doing.

Southernwood

A hefty contingent of volunteers, municipal workers, business groups and the general public conducted a cleanup in Southernwood.  This was the beginning of the efforts to change the mindset and instil a sense of ownership and respect for the environment in that community.  This cleanup was supported in large numbers and is only one of the Call-2-Action initiatives taking place in that area.

Oxford Street/Western Avenue

Have you been avoiding Oxford Street because of the plethora of illegal and inappropriate adverts stuck against every building and surface from shopfronts to street signs to electricity boxes?  Well there is no longer a need to avoid Oxford Street as Call-2-Action, along with the municipality has scraped these offensive and unsightly posters off all the buildings, road signs and the many other surfaces where they regularly sprung up.  Call-2-Action has also been engaging with the landlords and involving them in the movement to clean up the CBD.

Make an effort to notice this next time you drive down Oxford Street and let these signs of positive change be an inspiration that things are changing for the better in the city.  If you are a doer, join in… there is so much to be done, every little bit counts.  Start by cleaning up the pavement and street in front of your business… and spread the news… join in everyone… East London is cleaning up it’s act!

How you can help

Call-2-Action is calling on all businesses and individuals to get involved in this ground breaking initiative to create a cleaner and greener Buffalo City. Below is a list of all the materials required to set up pilot site offices at each of the four pilot areas.

Converted Containers 

• 1 x 12m container
• 1 x 6m containerConversion to Offices
• Internal partitioning
• Internal cladding
• Internal wall partitioning
• Chemical toilet
• 12 x 600 x 600 aluminium windows
• 12 x Steel box frames for windows
• 1 x 2400 x 2400 aluminium sliding door
• 1 x 2400 x 2400 glazed signage panel
• Spiral staircase

Steel Canopy and Supporting  Steelwork 

• Steel sheeting cladding
• Manufacture, supply and installation
• Fascias and rainwater goods
• Painting and finishing
• Structural steel frame and supports

Concrete Bases and Plinth Concrete

• 4 concrete bases – 800 x 800 for container pads
• 50mm concrete cover below container

Paved Kerbed Area (Outside Container)

• 45sqm with 30m kerbing on compacted and filled base course

Recycle Bins

• 4 x Recycle bins

Water Tanks

• 2 x 5000lt water tanks and connection pipes

Solar PV Power System

• 6 panel and batteries, cabling and LED’s for 10 lights and 4 plug points

Solar Wi-Fi Park Bench

• PV Panels and batteries for solar driven Wi-Fi and recharge stations
• Bench and battery box with solar panel support structure

Office Furniture and Equipment

• Meeting table and 12 x chairs upstairs
• 4 x Office chairs
• Coffee table and six chairs
• 6 x outdoor stackable chairs with table

If you don’t have any of the above items, but would love to involve your business in the betterment of our city, the Call-2-Action are also looking for financial donations and have come up with this attractive CSI package for local businesses where they can claim BBBEE points under Enterprise Development.

No longer is it acceptable for us, local East Londoners, to sit back and bemoan the lack of progress in our city.  The Call-2-Action has created a platform for individuals, businesses, interest groups and the municipality to come together as a collective, and to work together to solve the problems that have dogged our city.  It won’t happen overnight.. but it is happening.

And please… the nick name ‘Slummies’ or ‘Slum Town’ is not at all funny or smart or cool.  It is degrading and not a laughing matter and by using those ‘nicknames’, we are degrading the value of our city and reducing our changes of attracting tourism and investment, and even putting re-investment in our city at risk.

Find a way to contribute in whatever way you can to the Call-2-Action, be part of the solution… and together we will change our city into the beautiful butterfly we already know she can be.

If you would like to find out how you can contribute to Call-2-Action, contact Drayton Brown on 0437438438 or email him at ibc@bkcob.co.za, or visit the ‘Call-2-Action’ Website, LIKE their Facebook Page and sign-up for their email blog.

Article:  Sandy Loppnow