Page 8 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 3 2025

ESTATE MATTERS
ESTATE MATTERS
HOME FRONT

BETTER

FOURWAYS:

CLEANING UP, STANDING STRONG

AND REFUSING TO BACK DOWN

COLUMN

BRENT LINDEQUE

ohannesburg, South Africa (16 April
2025) - Sometimes, the good news
is not found in flashy headlines
Jor viral trends but in the quiet,
consistent actions of ordinary citizens doing
extraordinary things.
That’s where Better Fourways comes in… a
grassroots force of nature determined to restore
our suburb, our streets and our sense of pride.
Born from the brave realisation that “no When the city took their banners, they didn’t back down.
one is coming to save us,” Better Fourways
is what happens when active citizenship They picked up their brooms and carried on cleaning. Better
gets real. It’s not a political project. It’s not
a marketing gimmick. It’s a community-led Fourways isn’t just fixing a suburb… they’re proving what
movement that’s saying: we care and we’re happens when a community becomes unstoppable.
doing something about it.
Spearheaded by Raffi Carnicelli, Susan
Harwood and Pernille Martin, the initiative But sometimes, doing good gets you into Susan cements the sentiment: “I resonate
was inspired by successful models like Tidy trouble. with Gandhi’s ‘Be the change you want to see
Towns and Better Bedfordview. in the world.’”
On the 24th of March 2025, the
These three Dainfern Golf Estate residents Johannesburg Metro Police arrived Hope doesn’t always arrive with fanfare…
saw the neglect and deterioration in their unannounced and confiscated Better sometimes, it looks like a small group of
area and decided enough was enough. Fourways’ banners and flags, accusing them locals cleaning their streets, standing tall
of “advertising illegally” and demanding a despite setbacks and quietly proving that
As Raffi puts it, “If we want to fix what is in payment for their return. change is possible. It’s not lofty or theoretical,
our immediate suburb, we are going to have it’s grounded in action, in persistence, in
to do it ourselves. If we are going to wait, I Most organisations might have been rattled. refusing to be discouraged when systems
am afraid that ship has sailed, has probably Some might have backed down. But Better fail or rules get in the way. This is what hope
sunk. We are going to have to redeem Fourways is made of sturdier stuff. looks like when it rolls up its sleeves and gets
ourselves. If you want to stay and be positive “We won’t be intimidated. We won’t stop to work.
about South Africa then this is the message I fighting for a cleaner, safer, better Fourways.”
think that we need to get out there: we need Not waiting for permission, just doing the
to do it ourselves… and we can… because Instead of paying to get their banners and flags work anyway.
there is power in numbers.” back, they’re choosing to continue their work. Because the reality is that no one is coming
What followed was a registered, apolitical, Unbothered and unfazed. It’s this exact decision, to save us. But maybe (just maybe) we don’t
non-profit organisation that’s not just talking the refusal to be shaken and the commitment need saving. Maybe we just need to roll up
about change, they’re sweeping it off the to purpose over politics, that proves just how our sleeves, link arms with our neighbours
pavements,trimming it back from the road much heart this organisation has. and do the good work ourselves.
signs and repainting it on every forgotten wall. Better Fourways is a powerful reminder that
real change doesn’t need permission. It And Pernille sums this up perfectly: “If you
Funded by residents and supported by local needs passion. can’t stand what’s going on, make a stand to
businesses, Better Fourways has been make it change!”
actively transforming the area into a safer,
cleaner, prouder place to live, work, play,
shop, go to school and walk your dog. To find out more about Better Fourways or to join
“We are making it a suburb that we can all
safely and happily enjoy and be proud of,” the their clean-up efforts, visit betterfourways.org.za.
team explains.
6 DPL issue 3 2025