CAPE TOWN - Among the many community initiatives created by the Cape Town Cycle Tour in its 40-year history, the Ocean View Cleaners project must rank as one of the most innovative.
The initiative has employed more than 100 community members to help clean and keep the roads free of dirt and waste during and after the race.
John Kieser, the organiser of Ocean View Cleaners, says the initiative started in 2007 after industry body Plastics SA was concerned that large events had become synonymous with litter.
“We’re focused on proper waste management, with a special focus on the recycling of the material generated at these events. This drive to collect for recycling then also serves as a platform to raise awareness of the need for recycling of plastics in South Africa,” says Kieser.
The workers are primarily from Ocean View, and among them is Lorraine Hendricks, 47, who started helping to keep Ocean View clean almost 20 years ago.
She became involved with the Cycle Tour 10 years ago when she met Kieser. “John liked my work and we decided to start with Ocean View Cleaners. I was excited to help out with the cleaning of the roads, and I assembled more than 100 people who filled up two buses,” says Hendricks.
“The Cycle Tour is always a huge celebration in our community and people are always ready to enjoy the festivities. With the 40th anniversary coming up, I can only imagine they have something special planned.”
Hendricks’s son has completed five Cycle Tours. She hopes to one day participate with him. Hendricks said she was grateful she and her team had the opportunity to make a difference.
“We always go out the following day to check the results of our work, and I must say we do a great job of keeping our community clean. People need to remember to reuse, reduce, recycle and rethink.” Kieser is an avid cyclist but he has never participated in the Cycle Tour because there is work to do before and on race day.
But he gets a kick out of seeing the smiles on the workers’ faces
after keeping the route clean.
“My fondest moments of the Cycle Tour are when I pay the people and they carry away their spoils for the day. Food, cold drinks, friendships made with marshals and, of course, the money in their pockets is always good.”