WATCH: Many hands making light work of cleaning Benoni’s lakes

After successfully removing alien invasive plants from the shore of Homestead Dam and ensuring the water body remains litter-free, Homestead Helpers for Benoni moved southwards to assist with clearing the mess around Middle Lake on October 19.

The organisation, along with community members helped clear 99% of the hyacinth at Homestead Dam before moving on to focus on lakes on the other side of the N12.

They removed poplars, water berries and bug weeds, among others, which are said to replace indigenous riverine and forest margin species, on the public space by the dam wall near the highway.

“We started off cleaning up at Homestead Dam, but all Benoni’s water bodies are interconnected so we are cleaning up these areas for the better of the overall environment,” said the organisation’s Jacqui Keel.

Mountains of litter created by charred clothes, plastic and wood, as well as waste pickers’ hidden bags of recycled material and makeshift beds were cleared at Middle Lake. A waste picker pointed out to the Helpers that an open space at the lake is being used by members of the White Garment Church from Zimbabwe. In this area, there was a fireplace full of ash, tree stumps and more litter.

Keel explained the removal of these alien plants was important so that when the process of clearing the hyacinth from the three lakes is underway, the environment around them is in a better condition.

“It’s our national responsibility to remove these alien invasive plants. The presence of these plants near water bodies aids in illegal dumping.

“The idea is to remove and poison them correctly. If we expose this area and leave it clean, it makes it difficult for illegal dumping to happen unnoticed.”

Challenges

The organisation’s director of environmental affairs, Chintan Patel, explained that due to the successful fight against the hyacinth at Homestead Dam, “thanks to persistent community efforts”, there was strong will in the community to help clear these invasive alien plants from Middle, Civic and Kleinfontein lakes.

“The scale of the problem is significantly larger and these areas face greater challenges due to water toxicity, limited accessibility and the sheer size of the lakes,” Patel said.

“However, there is a strong will among community members and local organisations, such as Homestead Helpers for Benoni, Clean Projects, Afriforum Benoni and Clean the Heart of Benoni, to address these challenges.

“Together, we are working toward restoring Benoni’s reputation as the Jewel of the East Rand.”

Patel also said that clearing the dam wall at the N12 onramp is the first step towards making the lakes accessible.

“While the initial clean-up has made a small impact, there is still a long way to go. We’ve started something important but need more community involvement and funding to continue this vital work.”

Anyone interested in supporting these efforts can contact Chintan Patel on 084 244 8800 or email chintan.patel@hh4b.org.za

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