At 60 years of age, Newcastle resident Yvonne van Rooyen has taken on a challenge few would consider. She could no longer stand by as her suburb slipped into neglect, prompting her to act with quiet resolve.
Living in Amiel Park, van Rooyen has set her sights on restoring order to the residential area—confronting illegal dumping, overgrown grass, and the creeping disorder around her.
“I was born in Newcastle and grew up here before moving away for just over 28 years, before moving back five years ago, and I could not believe how the town looked,” she shared.
The sight of illegal dumping along Groef Road, grass spilling over Circle Drive, and the neglected park—where weeds even broke through the tarmac—stirred her to action. By March 2025, she decided to become the change she longed to see in Newcastle.
“I started with the grass and weeds growing through the tarmac on the roads, and the park on Centre Drive started bugging me, because people would come to the park, sit in their cars before littering and then leaving. The grass in the park was also long and I decided to start cutting the grass as well,” she said.
With an electric lawnmower in hand, van Rooyen balances running a business with this labour of love.
“From Monday to Friday, I do my big girl job and over the weekends I then focus on this, as I cannot just sit back and let this continue. While I do have a gentleman who is employed by me to assist me with clearing up, I do cut the grass myself as well. One morning, I began at 9am and was done by 12pm, just three hours, and the gentleman who assists me often jumps in to help where he can. I have managed to clean a large section of Circle Drive and have removed tree trunks that were illegally dumped on Groef Street, using my own vehicle to remove it,” she explained.
Her drive to renew her community doesn’t stop there. She now plans to tackle the municipal park on Eaton Road in Amiel Park. Yet, amid her dual roles as business owner and volunteer, she sees a deeper issue in Newcastle:
“There is no interest in the community. People would rather sit back and complain. For example, there are several men living in my area, but not one of them will stand up and do anything to make our suburb look better. But I will do it,” she affirmed.
Van Rooyen’s efforts shine as a beacon in a country where service delivery often falters. She’s not alone—across South Africa, community groups are stepping up, reshaping how people view potholes, overgrown curbs, littered beaches, and waste. These initiatives, born from necessity, are knitting neighborhoods closer together.
From beach cleanups to river restoration, litter collection to lawn mowing, these groups unite people in a shared mission to improve South Africa. Funded by local businesses, private donors and spirited volunteers, here are a few dedicated humans
Gauteng
- Better Bedfordview (Working in Bedfordview) – Website / Facebook
- Better Fourways (Working in Fourways) – Website
- Clean Projects (Working in Benoni) – Facebook
- Friends of the Wilds, Joburg (Working in Johannesburg ) – Facebook
KwaZulu-Natal
- Love Howick NPC (Working in Howick) – Website / Facebook
- Love Notties (Working in the Midlands) – Website / Facebook
- The Litter Boom Project (Working in Durban) – Website / Facebook
- Tidy Towns (Working from Shelly Beach to Margate) – Facebook
Mpumalanga
Western Cape
- Better.bellville.together (Working in Bellville) – Website / Facebook
- Camps Bay Clean (Working in Camps Bay) – Facebook
- Mosselbank River Conservation Team (Greenville) – Website / Facebook
- Project Noordhoeked (Working in Noordhoek) – Facebook
- Save A Fishie (Working in Cape Town) – Website / Facebook
As the call for community action grows louder, van Rooyen believes small steps can spark big change.
“Even if it is just removing the grass and weeds growing in the road on your street, cutting your pavements, and picking up litter, it will make a difference. Nobody pays me to do this work, as it is not about money, it is about seeing the change you want to see. Just get up and do it,” she urged.
At 60, Yvonne van Rooyen is proving one person’s care can ripple outward. What do you think of her story? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
5 Responses
Maybe … just maybe…. we should hold this municpality accountable….
I did what you are doing.
I cleaned the end of drakensburg every weekend from.the illegal dumping by neighbors in the area around drakens burg road.
Nothing has changed,
This council need to be show they cannot continue with running the country into the ground !
We should with hold our rates !
Yvonne is an inspiration to all of Newcastle.
More people should get involved in their neighborhood and feel as proud as Yvonne.
Yvonne is a caring person and has the flair for neatness. 30 years on and our democracy has failed citizens. This stems from ignorance from our Government and local municipalities through out SA. We citizens are also responsible for illegal dumping worsening the situation instead of doing what Yvonne takes pride in doing trying to make adifference. Many residents through out the country are doing a great job with potholes, grass cutting and removal of refuse. Citizens please respect Yvonne’s plight in her area, maybe lend a hand.
Regards and keep up the good challenges Yvonne
Bobby Pillay
A few years ago we did the same in paradise, employed a gentleman to help pick up the litter, clean the pavements, what was frustrating was every time we cleaned, one or two people would constantly come and dump, the schools were the biggest problem because the students don’t believe in bins,
Sad reality is the municipality is not doing anything about the neighborhoods and we as residents have to pay rates and taxes plus fork out additional cash to clean up
When will it end????
Good day. I am not doing anything for someone else. Yes, I pick up litter daily in the park and where ever I go. If we have to wait for someone(municipality or who ever),can you Imagine the state of our towns and Country? No man, it does not make one poorer or less of a person. It will rub off,eventually. Quitting should not be a option.