From eyesore to eye-catching, ‘Pierneef bridge’ is now the talk of the town

Die Moot Projek has been on a mission to transform the area into a community everyone can be proud of — and there are no signs of slowing down

Moot residents might have noticed a change at the 30th Avenue bridge with a brand new Pierneef-inspired mural.

The initiative was completed on the last day of 2022 as a welcome change to the formerly unsightly damaged bridge. Die Moot Projek spearheaded the project in collaboration with local businesses, residents and the City of Tshwane.

The project’s organisers said that the goal was to beautify, clean and restore the sidewalk to bring some positivity, excitement and pride.

The work was set in motion by residents Gustav Weich and the artist Elsie Weich, as well as surrounding residents and business owners.

Artist Elsie Weich, who lives in the Moot, was inspired by the history of the area. Pierneef Street nearby is named after the famous painter Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, who lived a stone’s throw away from the bridge. They decided to dub it the “Pierneef bridge”.

Weich told Rekord: “I believe that artists can have a valuable impact in spaces such as these since they combine historical and current symbols in their work to convey a message, while simultaneously beautifying the environment.

“Street art also supports the premise of the Broken Window Theory, namely that well-kept and beautiful areas over time lead to a reduction in crime and unprovoked acts of destruction.”

The initiative also:

– Repaired the broken sidewalk on the bridge

– Removed rubbish from and around the bridge

– Repainted traffic light poles and parking poles

– Streetlights were repainted

What started as a clean-up of Pierneef Street quickly turned into a full-fledged dream for the larger Moot area. Hennie Mostert and Johan Oberholster decided to take things into their own hands by cleaning up a part of Pierneef Street and a local park after they realized the need. Their idea grew into Die Moot Projek (English: The Moot Project), in which they try to involve and engage with residents in the greater Moot.

Die Moot Projek follows a growing movement of citizens taking matters into their own hands when municipal or national governments fail to meet residents’ service needs.

“We would like to show the community that there is hope and opportunities in the future if we dig in and do things ourselves, irrespective of how negative and difficult things around us may appear,” said Mostert.

Together with residents, local ward councilors, the Tshwane metro, and other local businesses and contributors Die Moot Projek wants to make their dream come true.

Oberholster said that the New Year would not slow Die Moot Projek down.

He said: “The Moot Project plans to continue with our monthly community skrop sessies.
From January to March 2023, we plan to, from the south, systematically clean the Moot with the assistance of workers sponsored by a government unemployment relief program. Thereafter, we plan to appoint permanent workers to maintain the cleaned areas to the highest standard.”

Sourced from: Rekord Pretoria