Residents won't allow history to repeat itself
A community initiative seeks to turn tragedy into something positive: safeguarding Mountain View children in Skierlik against drowning and helping to put food on the table for needy families.
The residents saw it fit to start a food gardening project around the man-made dam at the local quarry that left the community of Skierlik and the Mountain View community reeling following the drowning of two children in 2021.
Lawrence Tony Tshwenu (5) and Siyabonga Mabila (7) drowned while swimming in the quarry at the construction site situated in Skierlik, far east of Mamelod, i that year.
The quarry is situated along the K54 road and forms part of the N4 highway extension project.
Christopher 'Muvenda' Mudzanani, who lives next to the quarry, started the food gardening project in 2022 because they are adamant that history should not repeat itself.
Mudzanani said he started the project also whlie looking at the rate of unemployment in the area with the idea to feed needy families and for the safety of children who play near the dam and quarry.
He said he bought seeds to start the food garden using the water from the man-made dam.
'We are planting everything, from spinach, okra, onions, cabbage, and carrots,' said Mudzanani.
'The food project is a success, and we have 15 people working on the project at the moment.
'The food garden is for the community. We are also feeding the needy for free and selling the veggies to get income.'
Sphiwe Khoza from Ward 100 said the food gardening project is an opportunity to save children in the community from drowning.
Khoza said, 'We have children who are playing next to the quarry, and if not attended, they will drown.
'However, the challenge is that we need proper fencing around the quarry, nets to cover our veggies and seeds to grow the project around the quarry.
'The main aim is to cover the whole surroundings of the quarry with vegetable gardens. We call on all the community members interested in gardening to come on board and help safeguard the quarry.'
'We don't want history to repeat itself. Mountain View residents are not ready to lose another child at a man-made dam,' said Khoza.
He said following the drowning of the two boys, the government fenced the quarry, but unfortunately, it was stolen at night.
'Therefore, the quarry is no longer safe for our children.
'We desperately need donations of fences for our gardens, seeds to grow the project and tools,' said Khoza.
'The land is not ours, and no one gave the land, but we are using it to fight poverty and keep our children safe.'
The project is for the whole community in terms of feeding needy families. During the Easter Weekend, the families came to get free spinach to eat with their loved ones.
Resident Tryphina Chipu said there's no more sleeping on an empty stomach.
'The project helps put food on our tables, and we can make that little money from the veggies that we sell to community members.'
Khoza added that prevention is better than a cure.
'We are looking for donations of a fence or asbestos fence right around the quarry, because there are families who do the washing at the dam (quarry), and sometimes water is scarce at Skierlik. Residents fetch water at the same quarry,' said Khoza, adding, 'the government should also provide a proper land where we can run a food gardening project because more people in the community are interested in planting.'
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