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Clean-up rids river of bodies, dead animals, sewage...
By Francois du Plessis
JOHANNESBURG – Dead animals, foetuses wrapped in plastic and even human bodies regularly find their way into the increasingly contaminated Jukskei River in Johannesburg.
The poor quality of the water has spurred local conservationists and the metropolitan council to throw their weight behind cleaning up the river.
A major clean-up is under way in Dewets- shof Park, near Bruma in Johannesburg.
This is where the river emerges from underground concrete channels in the CBD.
According to Paul Fairall, chairman of the Jukskei River Catchment Area Management Forum, remedial workers from the Soul Foundation have collected more than two tons of rubbish from the river in the first few days.
“The refuse collected included bottles, cans, clothes, mattresses, computer parts and even discarded fax machines.
“It is a whole lot of general rubbish making its way into the stormwater pipes in the city,” Fairall said.
More horrific finds – such as bodies, foetuses and dead dogs and cats – had been made at the newly installed litter trap at the nearby Bezuidenhout Park, following flash floods, said Fairall.
“We collected about three bakkie loads of raw sewage (containing such items) which would have still been in the water if not for the trap. The social ills of the inner city are really where the main problem lies.”
Ward councillor Shirley Ancer said she was delighted that some action was being taken to rid the Jukskei River of such serious contamination.
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