The Friends of the Rivers of Hout Bay have secured a dedicated vehicle for their daily river clean-up work. Private sponsors and a City of Cape Town Water and Sanitation grant made it possible.
New vehicle to strengthen daily operations
Jackie Whales, chair of the organisation, said the team will use the vehicle to collect tools and equipment each morning. They will gather litter and take waste to landfill sites.”We also have to remove biomass from time to time,” Whales said.
End to reliance on supervisor’s private car
Previously the organisation relied on a supervisor’s private vehicle. Mechanical issues sometimes brought operations to a halt.
“Previously our supervisor was using his own car, which was not ideal. We were obviously helping maintain it, but if he broke down it severely impacted our operations. Now we anticipate only scheduled maintenance,” Whales said.
Scheduled clean-ups to continue as planned
Whales said the vehicle will not significantly alter how the team operates. The organisation schedules most clean-ups on set days, with occasional extra interventions.
“We collect litter on specific days rather than in response to events,” she said. “The vehicle won’t impact this.”
Sewage, litter and invasive species remain key challenges
The organisation continues to battle environmental challenges in Hout Bay. These include sewage pollution, litter and invasive alien species. Urbanisation also speeds up water flow through the catchment.
“I would say sewage pollution, litter, invasive species and the effects of urbanisation on the catchment increased fast flow,” Whales said.
Private sponsors and City grant make vehicle possible
Private sponsorship and a City of Cape Town Water and Sanitation grant made the vehicle a reality. Two private sponsors joined forces with the City’s Water and Sanitation department to fund the project.
“This dream has come true for us. We are very grateful to all involved,” Whales said.
How to support Friends of the Rivers of Hout Bay
Whales stressed the importance of protecting Hout Bay’s rivers and wetlands for future generations. She urged individuals and businesses to back the organisation’s conservation work.
“We rely on sponsorship from individuals and businesses, so please consider supporting us if possible,” Whales said.
