By Estelle Ellis
IN Port Elizabeth, illegal abortionists advertise their services for "safe, painfree abortions” on almost every streetlamp, corner and dustbin.
It is illegal, but backstreet abortion clinics are not a priority for either the police or the municipality.
So members of the public have taken up the issue. Once a month, dedicated groups of people gather for a unique cleaning operation – removing advertisements of illegal abortion clinics.
"If we save one girl and one baby that will be enough,” one group’s coordinator, Nikki Vermeulen, said.
"We started the group because we wanted to do something. For an hour or two on a Saturday every month we scrape the posters off walls, municipal rubbish bins, streetlamps and road signs.”
She said although the posters were illegal, the unlawful posting of advertisements was not well policed by the municipality.
"We are trying to do something small to make a difference, but often in the next day or two they will be up again.”
