Paulshof clean-up efforts help protect local waterway
Through regular maintenance work across Paulshof and support for the community-driven SpruitSpritz clean-ups, the PRRA maintenance team is helping to protect local green spaces and the Braamfontein Spruit.
While many residents enjoy the beauty of the Braamfontein Spruit and Paulshof’s green spaces, few see the hard work that goes into keeping these areas clean.
Every Tuesday, a maintenance team from the Paulshof Residents and Ratepayers Association (PRRA) works across the suburb, clearing litter, cutting grass, and maintaining public spaces. Once a month, the team joins volunteers from SpruitSpritz, a community-led environmental initiative dedicated to cleaning sections of the spruit.
Read more: Large-scale Sunninghill clean-up drive successful
For Elias Ndabandaba of the maintenance team, the work has become a long-term commitment to the community. ” We have been doing this work for about 10 years.”
He said the team regularly removes rubbish that finds its way into the river system, including plastic packaging, bottles, cans, and other waste carried downstream.
“One of the biggest challenges is removing cables and wires from the river. We often have to use our hands because we don’t always have the right equipment.”
The work can be physically demanding and sometimes hazardous, particularly when volunteers and workers have to navigate steep riverbanks, thick vegetation and debris hidden in the undergrowth.
According to PRRA representative June Julyan, the association’s maintenance team supports the monthly SpruitSpritz initiative while continuing its weekly work throughout the suburb.
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“We are constantly working to keep Paulshof clean, safe and attractive for everyone who lives here. Through our weekly maintenance programme and monthly SpruitSpritz clean-ups, we are doing our best to protect the Braamfontein Spruit and the surrounding green spaces.
“However, keeping the area clean is a community effort, and we would love to see more residents getting involved and helping us preserve this beautiful river frontage,” said Julyan.
The association is also encouraging residents to support its broader maintenance programme through annual membership contributions.
“We would love residents to contribute either their time or their support. Annual contributions are R350, and members receive a discount card that offers benefits at several participating businesses, including Mugg & Bean, Builders Warehouse Rivonia, and many more.”
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