Eco-Activists Rally to Revive Westbury into a Place the Community Can Be Proud Of

Photo Credit: Supplied

In a neighbourhood where crime and conflict often take the spotlight, a dedicated band of eco-warriors are proving that even the toughest streets can transform into something truly special for the people who know them as home.

Westbury, South Africa (28 January 2026) – In the heart of Westbury, where gang wars, drug dealing, crime, and violence are a daily occurrence, environmentally conscious community activists are taking ownership of their neighbourhood.

A brave young man, Elroy Daniels, has chosen to create a small piece of heaven amidst the chaos. In the neighbouring town of Bosmont, he found fellow eco-activists Debbie Cockerell from CGP, Evelyn Van Niekerk from Isaiah Recyclers, and Quanit Soeker from AIR-Area Improvement & Restoration. Together, they are working to tackle the heaps of waste found on almost every corner and overflowing into the sewer system and nearby streams.

Painting a vivid picture of the unsettling situation, Evelyn Van Niekerk says:

“A putrid stench hangs in the air while swarms of flies and rodents scurry through the streets. There is often no service delivery, and the community protests by burning tyres and blocking off the main arterial roads. The police and news reporters arrive, and once again the negative aspects are put under the spotlight.”

But these eco-warriors want to change this narrative. They first met on World Clean-up Day, 20 September last year, where they cleaned three sites: Bosmont, Claremont, and Westbury, collecting close to 300 bags of waste.

They have further sent a call to action to the residents of Westbury to bring about change in the community. This has seen unemployed residents volunteering to pick up waste as a way of earning a living. Evelyn and her team also plan to educate and empower these volunteers to work with the community to maximise their waste collections, thereby diverting more waste from landfills and increasing their income.

“The clean-up efforts have sparked renewed hope, and the team has been working regularly on the passage that connects Dowling Avenue to Eric Place, from Jordan House Old Age Home to the Sophiatown Police Station.”

This passageway is frequently used by school children, the elderly, and residents trying to avoid the busy main road. Elroy and his team have cleaned, cleared out, and started making the space more eco-friendly and attractive.

Westbury

His vision is to utilise this area and transform it into a historical site that the community can be proud of. A place where children can feel safe, with trees and flowers planted, benches installed, recycled art displayed, and facilities like an outdoor gym.

“We would love to get this area utilised again so the youth could take an interest in sports and stay out of trouble,” Evelyn adds.

These eco-warriors hope these efforts will also shift attention away from the negative realities of Westbury and focus on the positives. They are currently seeking sponsors to join them on this significant project and bring about a turnaround in the town.

A stadium clean-up campaign will be held on Saturday, 31 January, from 8 am to 1 pm. Volunteers, residents and community partners are encouraged to support the initiative and meet at Newlands Passage on Dowling Street.

For more information, email Evelyn at evelyn_vanniekerk@msn.com.