McKeed Kotlolo

Almost unrecognisable in their blue two-piece overalls, gloves, safety shoes and hats, Emakhazeni councillors in Mpumalanga traded their offices for the streets and embarked on a cleaning campaign, much to the surprise of local residents.

Executive mayor Linkie Mohlala sold the idea to her officials as part of hands-on service delivery by municipal leaders. Thirteen councillors from all political parties dirtied their hands to pick up street litter and clear illegal dumping areas on street corners last week.

Though they weren't as fast as the regular garbage collectors, "Bo Ramadombo" in township lingo, they removed bins from all yards in the township and emptied them on to tractors.

Mohlala told Sowetan: "It's tough out there. Residents should use their bins properly and not dump rubbish on every street corner."

The council was finalising the purchase of compressor trucks to replace the current tractors used to collect rubbish, she said.