Mfuleni and Makhaza residents were reminded of the importance of living in a clean environment during the cleaning up of wetlands in the two communities on Saturday 18 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clean-up programme, spearheaded by Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) which advocates for environmental and social justice, saw five high schools (Mfuleni Technical Academy, Bardale High School, Fairdale High School 1 and 2 and Manzomthombo Secondary School) taking part in the initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The schools are part of EMG\u2019s Eco Club, where learners are educated through workshops about litter and its environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EMG\u2019s programme assistant Afika Ndlela said their campaign specifically targets townships where people were exposed to pollution due to living conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe know that government on its own is unable to deliver basic services to these communities. So, we need our people to have better knowledge of what they can do with litter. For instance, some litter can bring in money for them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ndlela said they hope to see people making a difference in their communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople need to know that litter harms farmers who need the same land to plough. So, be always mindful of your actions,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phila Mpambaniso (18), from Mfuleni Technical Academy, said it is important to have ecological areas such as rivers and oceans. They are both homes to millions of water species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EMG\u2019s project manager Siya Myeza said their work along this Kuils River Catchment, which runs through Mfuleni, presents an opportunity to explore and expose the systematic environmental racism that results in many low-income communities living in environmentally harmful conditions that undermine their quality of life and livelihoods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mass clean-up focuses on specific parts of the river where community interaction with the river is the highest. These areas used to be vibrant economic hubs before Cape Town\u2019s drought dried up all the opportunities,\u201d he said<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut the water situation has improved since then, and these communities need improved services and support from the City of Cape Town, to make this a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Myeza said that communities organised themselves to clean up a section of the river that is nearest to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are primarily areas where illegal dumping \u2013 due to the lack of waste management infrastructure and sanitation services \u2013 pollutes the river.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mfuleni and Makhaza residents were reminded of the importance of living in a clean environment during the cleaning up of wetlands in the two communities on Saturday 18 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