Volunteer staff from GrandWest and other organisations teamed up on World Water Day, Friday 22 March, to combat river pollution by cleaning up the Elsies River Canal.
This year, the theme for the United Nations-sanctioned International Day is “Water for Peace” to focus on the critical role water plays in the stability and prosperity of the world.
According to Thumeka Siwela, the SHE officer at GrandWest, the volumes of waste collected at and around the canal was 115.7 kgs.
Siwela adds that there was a total of 99 participants.
“Water is an increasingly limited resource, and warnings that future wars will be waged over water is something we should all be concerned about. GrandWest management is proud to see our staff making a tangible difference and loving every moment of doing so. They come back to work recharged and inspired,” said GrandWest general manager Mervyn Naidoo.
creating awareness
The objective of the clean-up campaign is to create awareness around the Elsieskraal River, its history and the negative effect dumping and subsequent blockages have had on the quality of the river and environment.
Many pollutants enter the river system further upstream, while wind can carry discarded land waste some distance before depositing it alongside waterways.
At every turn, waste builds up until the river carries it out to sea where it negatively affects fish populations.
Volunteers will also remove water-guzzling invasive plant species from the section of the Elsieskraal River Canal that flows past GrandWest.
schools assist
Although schools will be closed, learners from Elswood and Bellville South High Schools have elected to give up a day of their holiday to assist. Each school will be represented by 15 learners and two educators from each school. Both schools are currently in year two of a WESSA Eco-School programme supported by GrandWest.
Naidoo said: “If Cape Town has learnt one thing, it is that we can never again take water for granted. While we have no control over rainfall, we can protect our rivers from waste by removing pollutants and invasive plants.”
