Philippi Residents Confirm Cleaner Streets and Strong Community Impact

Pedi
1 day ago
2 min read

The Philippi Economic Development Initiative (PEDI) is pleased to share the Cleaning Perception Survey Results, which measured how residents experienced the impact of the Philippi Presidential Employment Programme (PEP) cleaning teams during the 2025/26 financial year.

Conducted through face-to-face interviews with 405 residents across Philippi East between 15 May and 19 June 2026, the survey has a 4.9% margin of error at a 95% confidence level, providing a reliable snapshot of community opinion.

The findings demonstrate overwhelming public recognition of the programme’s contribution to a cleaner, healthier and more attractive community.

Key findings

89% of residents said they see the PEP cleaning teams at least once a week, with most reporting that they see them every day.
91% said Philippi’s streets are cleaner than they were a year ago, with two-thirds describing the improvement as significant.
91% reported noticeable improvements in illegal dumping, unpleasant smells and flies, highlighting important environmental and public health benefits.
95% said cleaner streets make them feel proud of their community, showing that environmental improvements also strengthen civic pride and community wellbeing.

The survey also highlights the scale of the work behind these perceptions. During the 2025/26 financial year, 108 PEP cleaning team members collected 181,884 waste bags across Philippi East—an average of approximately 1,684 bags per team member. These operational achievements provide a practical explanation for the positive changes residents reported throughout the survey.

Residents also identified where they have seen the greatest improvements. Cleaner main roads ranked first, followed by reduced illegal dumping and cleaner informal settlement streets. While satisfaction with the programme was high, respondents also identified priorities for the future, including more frequent cleaning, stronger enforcement against illegal dumping, additional cleaning staff and expanded recycling initiatives. These recommendations provide valuable guidance for strengthening future community cleaning programmes.

Overall, the survey confirms that the Philippi Presidential Employment Programme delivered far more than visible street cleaning. It improved environmental conditions, strengthened community pride and demonstrated how local employment programmes can produce measurable benefits for both residents and the urban environment.

Download the full report below to explore the findings in detail.