Volunteers and community supporters removed the equivalent of 112 standard dustbin bags of waste during the October 31 SpruitSpritz clean-up in Paulshof.

That brings the initiative’s cumulative collection to approximately 8 357.5 bags since September 2020. The monthly initiative brings together residents, volunteers and local organisations to remove litter and debris from the waterways and surrounding green belts. According to organiser Chantal Nativel, the team does not formally monitor the condition of the spruit between monthly clean-ups, as the initiative is run by volunteers. However, illegal dumping remains a concern, particularly around bridges and accessible areas. “Dumping occurs all along the Braamfontein and Sandspruit waterways – wherever people have vehicle access,” she explained.

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One of the latest incidents involved eight large bags of material offcuts dumped from the Witkoppen Bridge into the waterway, with the dry material later collected for repurposing. Nativel said not all the debris found during clean-ups resulted from deliberate dumping. “Every sweet wrapper, sucker stick and chicken bone thrown into the street that gets into the storm water drains lands up in the rivers,” she said, highlighting how everyday littering contributes to river pollution.

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Regarding municipal intervention, Nativel said organisers had not engaged with the City of Johannesburg recently. However, former Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy previously helped secure Johannesburg Water’s intervention to repair a sewer leak that had been discharging directly into the spruit for months. Nativel added that Johannesburg Water had responded effectively to other sewer leaks.

The October clean-up attracted support from St Peter’s Environmental Club, FADT, Chilli Lane Shopping Centre gardeners, Paulshof Resident and Ratepayers Association gardeners, Rivonia Riding Club and regular volunteers. Residents Emeldah Lingwati and Dan Salmon also sponsored additional gardeners.

Nativel thanked residents who maintain the river frontage outside their properties and those who sponsor gardeners to assist with monthly clean-ups. She urged residents and businesses to take responsibility for waste disposal, particularly when removing rubble and garden refuse, by using trusted service providers and requesting photographic or video proof that waste has been delivered to an operating municipal landfill site.

She warned that the spruits and green belts are often overlooked because they are out of sight, despite being vital to the neighbourhood’s well-being.

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