Homeless crew work hard to prevent Centurion river flooding
Residents of Centurion have a group of homeless men, working alongside a local NGO to clean waste from a river, to thank for the decreased flooding in the area despite the recent heavy rains
Johannes Dube looks out at an island of trash known as “Polly Island” in the hennops river. The Island of trash forces the water to flow around it causing flooding in the area during heavy rains, 3 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Despite two weeks of near constant rainfall in Gauteng, the notorious flooding spots in Centurion, Pretoria, have had no major incidents reported and it appears that residents have a group of homeless people in the area to thank for this. The Hennops River which starts in Kempton Park, usually see its 100km stretch heavily swamped with large quantities of plastic, polystyrene, sewage and heaps of foam. Organisations, individuals, and the City of Tshwane have had to regularly clean out the river, which used to see large quantities of waste being cleared on a weekly basis. The decaying waste turns into…
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Despite two weeks of near constant rainfall in Gauteng, the notorious flooding spots in Centurion, Pretoria, have had no major incidents reported and it appears that residents have a group of homeless people in the area to thank for this.
The Hennops River which starts in Kempton Park, usually see its 100km stretch heavily swamped with large quantities of plastic, polystyrene, sewage and heaps of foam. Organisations, individuals, and the City of Tshwane have had to regularly clean out the river, which used to see large quantities of waste being cleared on a weekly basis.
The decaying waste turns into microplastics while the polystyrene releases agents which can cause birth defects and developmental disorders. It also often led to blockages which resulted in flooding and the overflowing of the river.
This was until a group of men who had been living alongside the river decided to form a team which regularly cleans out tons of litter and pollution found in the river, meaning fewer blockages, and subsequently less flooding.
The men live under a bridge, not far from one of the most notorious bottlenecks, where the pollutants usually pile up, the group of eight men have joined the efforts of non-profit organisation Hennops Revival, and can be found putting in the work.
Sibusiso Maphungela under the Gautrain bridge near the Hennops River where he takes part in some of the cleanup operations along the polluted river, 3 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Sibusiso Maphungela who lives in a tent under the Gautrain bridge near the Hennops River takes part in a clean up operation with the Hennops Revival team, 1 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Nkulululeko Mduli who lives in a tent under the Gautrain bridge near the Hennops River takes a break from a clean up operation with the Hennops Revival team, 1 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Johannes Dube looks out at an island of trash known as “Polly Island” in the hennops river. The Island of trash forces the water to flow around it causing flooding in the area during heavy rains, 3 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Tarryn Johnston from Hennops Revival near hundreds of bags of trash she and her team cleared from in and around the Hennops River, 1 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Sibusiso Maphungela who lives in a tent under the Gautrain bridge near the Hennops River takes part in a clean up operation with the Hennops Revival team, 1 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Volunteers cleaning the river. Photo: Supplied
Hennops Revival clean up the Hennops river as it flows throught the Irene Country Club, 20 October 2020. Hennops revival is a NPO that dedicates itself to cleaning the Hennops river and creating awareness of this natural resource as well as creating jobs for the surrounding communities. Picture: Neil McCartney
Hennops Revival clean up the Hennops river as it flows throught the Irene Country Club, 20 October 2020. Hennops revival is a NPO that dedicates itself to cleaning the Hennops river and creating awareness of this natural resource as well as creating jobs for the surrounding communities. Picture: Neil McCartney
Picture: Neil McCartney
A waste collector looks for recyclables in a heap of trash along the polluted hennops river, 1 October 2020, Olifantsfontein. During heavy rains enourmous amounts of pollution gets swept down stream often resulting in floods. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Sibusiso Masango has been living near the river for the past four years after leaving KwaNdebele to look for work. He said he approached founder of Hennops Revival, Tarryn Johnston when he noticed her cleaning the river early last year.
“I went to her to ask for work. She said I can work with them to clean out the river. Ever since living here, this river has never been in good condition,” he said.
This happened shortly before the controversial dumping of latex gloves and surgical masks last year during a period when the personal protective equipment was in short supply, and since then the work has barely stopped.
The group’s team leader Johannes Dube has great knowledge of the river, having lived by the banks for several years before the NGO moved him to a homeless shelter.
Speaking beside a large waste pile, collected from one of the poly-island nets which were installed to catch waste, and have been working overtime after the recent rains, Dube spoke passionately about their efforts.
“I know my work very well and I help where I can because I love it. I am the team leader because I am willing to do anything and whatever they struggle with, including planning.”
Spending a lot of time around the river, Dube and Johnston say they have seen a decline in flooding in the area.
“I am around here all the time and I see what happens. The floods have reduced a lot.”
This was due to the reduction of storm water drainage blockages, Johnston said.
Hennops Revival Organization founder, Tarryn Johnston at the Centurion Lake. Image: Rekord.
Hennops Revival Organization founder, Tarryn Johnston at the Centurion Lake. Image: Rekord.
Hennops Revival Organization founder, Tarryn Johnston at the Centurion Lake. Image: Rekord.
Hennops Revival Organization founder, Tarryn Johnston at the Centurion Lake. Image: Rekord.
A waste collector looks for recyclables in a heap of trash along the polluted hennops river, 1 October 2020, Olifantsfontein. During heavy rains enourmous amounts of pollution gets swept down stream often resulting in floods. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Flooded Hennops River, Centurion, Tshwane | Image: Twitter @CityTshwane
Hennops Revival founder Tarryn Johnston with the scores of hyacinth plants which were removed from the pond at the Hennops River. Photo: Supplied
Water levels are high under a bridge in Centurion along the Hennops river near the Centurion Hotel where flooding often occurs during heavy rains, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Water levels are high under a bridge in Centurion along the Hennops river near the Centurion Hotel where flooding often occurs during heavy rains, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Water levels are high under a bridge in Centurion along the Hennops river near the Centurion Hotel where flooding often occurs during heavy rains, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Water levels are high under a bridge in Centurion along the Hennops river near the Centurion Hotel where flooding often occurs during heavy rains, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Flooding at a bridge along the Hennops river in Centurion, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Flooding at a bridge along the Hennops river in Centurion, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Flooding at a bridge along the Hennops river in Centurion, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Flooding at a bridge along the Hennops river in Centurion, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Water levels are high under a bridge in Centurion along the Hennops river near the Centurion Hotel where flooding often occurs during heavy rains, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Flooding at a bridge along the Hennops river in Centurion, 28 January 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Picture: Jacques Nelles
An island of trash known as “Polly Island” in the hennops river. The Island of trash forces the water to flow around it causing flooding in the area during heavy rains, 3 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
An island of trash known as “Polly Island” in the hennops river. The Island of trash forces the water to flow around it causing flooding in the area during heavy rains, 3 February 2021, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Nelles
“With us being so active, because there has been less blockages, there has been less flooding. These guys are with us and doing the labour and they are helping reduce the flooding,” she said.
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso confirmed that there were high volumes of water and localised flooding in Centurion in the recent weeks, but “actually not as bad as it usually is”.
“There was no major flooding. It might be due to the amount of rain that we have received and also due to areas where storm water drainages were cleared,” said Mabaso.
rorisangk@citizen.co.za
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