By Louis Loku
Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony has declared every Saturday a mandatory public cleaning day in Juba, directing residents, businesses, and institutions to clean their surroundings between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Under the directive, all shops, businesses, and other commercial activities are expected to remain closed during the two-hour exercise, with normal business operations resuming at 9 a.m.
Governor Adil said the initiative is intended to improve sanitation in the capital and address the growing problem of indiscriminate waste disposal and illegal dumping.
“Every shopkeeper and restaurant owner, market trader, landlord, institution, and household has the responsibility to keep the immediate surroundings clean,” Adil said.
The governor also called for increased public awareness and enforcement of city council regulations governing waste disposal, stressing that maintaining a clean city requires the participation of all residents.
Meanwhile, Juba City Council also urged residents, businesses, institutions, and other stakeholders to fully support the weekly clean-up exercise.
The council said households and residents should clean their compounds, streets, drainage areas, and surrounding public spaces, while collected waste should be placed at designated collection points for collection by council waste trucks.
Residents have also been warned against dumping garbage on roads, in drainage channels, and in other public spaces, with the council urging the public to use designated waste collection points.
Meanwhile, the Juba City Council has reduced its revenue collection workforce from 300 to 149 collectors as part of measures to curb unauthorised tax collection and alleged extortion of businesses.
Juba Mayor Christopher Sarafino Wani Swaka said the remaining revenue collectors will be issued uniforms bearing individual control numbers to make them easily identifiable.
According to the mayor, the identification system will enable the council to trace complaints against individual collectors and strengthen accountability and transparency in revenue collection.
The measures come as city authorities seek to improve both sanitation and municipal administration in Juba.
The City Council said the success of the Saturday clean-up will depend on collective participation from government institutions, businesses, communities, and households.
Authorities are encouraging residents to dedicate the two hours every Saturday to cleaning their surroundings and contributing to a cleaner, healthier, and safer capital city.
The council has emphasised that keeping Juba clean is a shared responsibility and called on all residents to cooperate with the directive.