GRASSROOTS POWER: How one doctor’s neighbourhood cleanup sparked a citywide movement in Gqeberha
From neighbourhood streets to major tourist hubs, TidyNMB turns small monthly contributions into citywide impact, aiming to crown Nelson Mandela Bay the country’s tidiest metro by 2028.
Neighbourhood doctor Johann Malherbe founded TidyNMB in 2022 and recruited four other residents to fund a park cleaner. In just two years, the organisation has grown into a citywide movement targeting Gqeberha's key tourist areas. With the help of community partners, TidyNMB aims to crown Nelson Mandela Bay the cleanest city in South Africa by 2028.
The organisation has set the ambitious goal of making the city "lavarind" by 2030 through community planting efforts. TidyNMB invites residents to plant lavender in public spaces, with a focus on the Golden Spine, which includes the Donkin Reserve and other high-traffic areas. The group emphasizes the importance of collaboration between residents, businesses, and the municipality to achieve their goals.
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