More than 14 tons of litter was removed from the Soet River in Helderberg through an environmental restoration and awareness project supported by grant funding from the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate.
From 1 April last year to 30 June this year, local NGO Making a Change carried out mechanical and manual clean-ups, sorted and removed litter, and rehabilitated a blocked culvert to improve water flow along the river.
The project combined environmental education, targeted clean-ups and community engagement with documentary-style videos produced to raise awareness about river pollution and responsible litter disposal.
About 80 volunteers participated in three clean-up initiatives, assisting with litter collection, sorting, site support and specialised culvert rehabilitation, while residents living along the Soet River and in surrounding communities joined environmental discussions and awareness activities.
“We value the contribution of organisations and residents who are willing to get involved and make a difference in their communities,” said Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation. “These partnerships complement the City’s work and help build greater awareness of the importance of keeping our waterways clean and protecting them for the future.”
Dean van Schalkwyk of Making a Change added: “For us the Soet River project is deeply personal. The Making a Change team is from the Helderberg, and this river runs through the community we call home. Many of us have driven past it for years and watched the pollution build up, so being able to take part in restoring it meant much more than simply completing a project.”
