By Mumtaz Moosa-Saley

The little corner of Helenvale was not the most attractive of the corners in the area, it was an eyesore which was commonly used for illegal dumping. However, this area has taken a three hundred and sixty-five-degree turn thanks to Claude Rademeyer.

The area was as I have mentioned an eyesore; Claude would often find dumped dead animals, and this made him decide to not only change the area but also his life. Claude is an ex-convict who spent two years in jail for assault. In 2016, he decided to turn his life around for the better, he needed to for his daughter.

He decided to clean the corner of Helenvale, and you can spot pretty flowers, painted rocks and his artistic talent using various recycle material such as cooldrink bottles and old couches. This space has been transformed into a welcoming space for all in the community.

Each day, before the world could wake up, Claude fills buckets to water the plants and see to the little garden he has created. He has added that space may look better now but there is still much work that needs to be done.

Claude hopes to transform the area in hope that it keeps kids off the street.