Take responsibility for your town

MOKOPANE – Astonished children from Mokopane Primary watched a bulldozer fill and level the old swimming pool on the corner of Geyser- and Hooge Street.
The pool will make way for a play area and a will have a dedicated pick-up and drop-off zone for taxis and parents collecting children. This forms part of an ambitious plan executed by the Destiny Alive congregation which will see the area revitalised from Hooge Street to Thabo Mbeki Street.
“At least three children have been hit by cars over the past few years,” says Ockert Groenewald, principal of Mokopane Primary School. “Once school is out, we no longer have control over the learners as they wait for their parents to collect them.”
Children running in the street is a common sight in the afternoons.
The abandoned pool is situated on the the department of public works' property and presents a health risk as it is used as a public toilet by pedestrians passing by.
Destiny Alive, with permission from the department of public works and Mokopane Primary, cleaned up the entire area, removed the old, rusted signposts and planted a baobab tree and other plants. Destiny Alive also repaired the road used by the ambulance services and fencing in April.
“The plan is to create a safe area for vehicles to collect the children,” said Destiny Alive's Pastor Thomas Marshall, while adding that the play area and fencing will hopefully keep the children safe. “We need to take responsibility for our town and work together to leave behind a lasting legacy and create clean, safe areas we can be proud of.”
Destiny Alive aims to create a park and build a colourful play area for the children using recycled jungle gyms and old painted tyres.
“I am happy to contribute towards the cost of the bulldozer,” said Groenewald, “as this area has been a major cause for concern and I thank the community for finding a solution."
Destiny Alive is situated at the RET Centre on the corner of Geyser and Fourie Streets.
Anyone who would like to donate old jungle gyms, play area equipment, hardy plants or landscaping materials like rocks or gravel can contact Charmaine O'Kennedy (Destiny Alive will come and collect it from your premises). Individuals or businesses who would like to get involved or would like to lend a hand can also contact Charmaine at 076 872 1324.