Diepsloot residents unite to clean-up polluted rivers
Concerned about pollution flowing from local rivers into the ocean, community members in Diepsloot West Ext 2 joined environmental organisations to remove litter and raise awareness about responsible waste disposal.
Rivers are among the most important natural resources in communities, providing habitats for aquatic life and helping to sustain ecosystems.
However, pollution, caused by illegal dumping, continues to threaten rivers, streams, and oceans, putting fish and other aquatic species at risk. It is for this reason that community members and environmental organisations recently joined forces to clean a section of a river in Diepsloot West Ext 2.
The clean-up initiative was led by Lovemore Robson, founder of the Live Life Always Foundation, in partnership with Save A Fishie, an organisation dedicated to saving aquatic life.
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The group spent the day removing litter from the river and surrounding areas to prevent waste from being carried downstream. “The motivation was to keep the river clean,” said Robson, “because litter goes from one river to another until it reaches the ocean and affects fish and other aquatic life.”
He said that the team faced several challenges during the clean-up.
“It’s difficult to find safe positions to stand while reaching some of the litter. Our biggest concern was preventing waste from travelling further downstream and ending up in the ocean.”
According to Robson, river pollution has serious consequences for local communities, especially in densely populated areas.
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“Pollution affects the community because it can lead to disease outbreaks, and this area is highly populated.”
He urged residents to play their part in protecting the environment by disposing of waste responsibly and making use of available bins.
“My message to the community is simple: Do not dump waste because it causes many disease outbreaks. People must use dustbins respectfully and keep the environment clean.”
Following the clean-up, Robson said participants expressed satisfaction with the results and were encouraged by the positive change they had made in the area.
“They were very happy because the area is now clean and a nicer place to live. The key message is that people must stop dumping and take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.”
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