The Jukskei River bears the scars of human pressure.
Ashford Sidzumo, safety, health, environment, and suality (Sheq) co-ordinator with the Alexandra Water Warriors, who has walked the river’s banks during countless water-sampling runs, says from Vincent Tshabalala Road down to Florence Mophosho Street, the embankment tells the story plainly. He said what he sees is not occasional pollution, but a persistent assault. Illegal PVC pipe connections puncture the banks in several places, one near the cemetery, another closer to Vasco, releasing raw sewage in steady flows. “Every time they flush inside the house, it comes here into the river.”

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These direct connections turn stretches of the waterway into an extension of the township’s sanitation system. At the 20th Avenue Bridge, the water now appears a dull, heavy green, thick with the visible signs of organic overload.

While the warriors’ litter traps pull out significant volumes of solid waste before it travels farther downstream, the sewage spillages remain the unrelenting threat. The group removes debris daily, including plastics, polyfoam packaging, old beds, and tree logs, upcycling what is practical, yet the liquid pollution continues unchecked.

Sidzumo emphasised that the ecological impact has been severe. A stretch that once supported aquatic life has gone quiet. He said that fish that hung on in small numbers have, over the years, disappeared under the cumulative stress of contamination. Even the cleaner-looking inflows from the suburbs on southern parts of Alexandra bring hidden dangers. While these streams appear clearer, they often carry high levels of chemicals, according to Sidzumo. “You would [see] that the stream from the suburbs is clean, but whatever chemicals they use to clean the water is too much. When it gets to this side, it affects aquatic life. The fish perish because of the overuse of whatever they are using to clean the water.”

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Community knowledge gaps compound the damage, leading to the deliberate killing of aquatic lives. Sidzumo cited a recent incident of a water monitor lizard that was killed after being found in the river, highlighting how little understanding exists about such creatures. The warriors now see education as critical. Co-founder and director Semadi Manganye is said they are constructing an education and awareness centre with a mini-recycling facility at Jukskei Park 3. The goal is to teach people about the significance of taking care of the resources in the face of South Africa’s water crisis. “We need to train our youth and the community more on how we can safeguard our water resources. We have a very old water resource that is flowing straight through Alexandra which is called the Jukskei River. We need to be mindful of what we throw into the river.”

He said door-to-door engagements, particularly on Thursdays, allow the team to listen to residents and find ways to reduce waste entering the system. These efforts build on partnerships with the City of Johannesburg, especially the regional director in Region E and support from Discovery Fund.

The approach combines daily river clean-ups with longer-term behavioural change through education. “Water cleanliness is our right, and clean parks and clean spaces, where young kids could go and the community can come share the space, speak to each other, share old stories, and meet new friends, these are our rights.”

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