SAB-CHAMDOR and Makhelwane Network Go Green with Community Cleaning Campaign
Thabo Motlhabi
“If you can’t clean your surroundings, then don’t make them dirty.” In a powerful act of community empowerment and environmental care, SAB-CHAMDOR, in collaboration with the Makhelwane Network, Reservoir Ridge Park, and the Kagiso 2 community, launched a five-day cleaning campaign from Monday, September 1st to Friday, September 5th, 2025. The event was hosted at Ridge Park.
The campaign coincided with Arbour Week, an annual South African event held from September 1st to 7th, which encourages citizens to plant indigenous trees and raises awareness about the importance of trees for environmental sustainability and community greening.
SAB: 130 Years of Giving Back
As SAB celebrates its anniversary, the company—widely recognized as South Africa’s number one beer brand—has used this milestone as an opportunity to give back to the communities that have supported it throughout the decades. The Ridge Park cleaning initiative reflects SAB’s core values of community development, environmental stewardship, and sustainable growth.
As SAB-CHAMDOR’s Environmental Safety and Environmental Manager, Mr. Michael Ravhengani, said: “For the community to be able to take care of their environment, this is one of the initiatives to give them a start to say—this is where we want our place to grow and keep it clean. It also helps preserve our natural resources, which are limited. Through this campaign, we can teach and inform both adults and children about the health impact of littering.”
Tackling Environmental Challenges
Ridge Park has long faced environmental issues, including littering, illegal dumping, public urination, and alcohol consumption, often in the early morning. These activities pose serious risks to community health and safety, particularly to children who frequently use the park.
Further concerns include:
- Liquor stores selling alcohol to underage children.
- Unregistered street vendors who leave behind waste and contribute to unsanitary conditions in the park.
Recognizing the need for urgent intervention, local residents joined forces during Arbour Week to restore dignity and pride to their communal space—just in time for the spring season, when public parks see increased foot traffic and recreational use.
Restoration and Donations
SAB-CHAMDOR contributed significantly to the restoration by donating chairs, steel dustbins, and other resources to improve accessibility and beautify the park. To promote long-term cleanliness, a large signboard was erected on Friday afternoon, encouraging residents to report illegal dumping and alcohol use to the relevant authorities.
Community First, Environment Always
This campaign not only aimed to clean and restore Ridge Park but also to foster a sense of environmental ownership and responsibility among residents. By aligning corporate social responsibility with grassroots activities, SAB-CHAMDOR and its partners have taken a meaningful step towards building safer, cleaner, and greener communities.