Community effort launches repair work at Botanical Gardens spillway
The restoration effort, which began on Mandela Day, is expected to continue long after, with further downstream repairs already being planned
What began as a Mandela Day volunteer initiative has become the first step in restoring a storm-damaged section of the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens’ Middle Dam.
Around 30 volunteers, including SRK Consulting employees, family members, representatives from the Emmarentia Residents’ Association, and regular park users, gathered to begin repairing the eroded spillway wall.
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SRK Consulting’s Linda Spies said the project was particularly meaningful because many of the company’s employees regularly use the Botanical Gardens. “Our offices are in Illovo, so it’s not far from us, and many of our staff walk their dogs or spend time here socially. It’s a place that’s close to our hearts.”
The main goal of the day was to restore the spillway wall, so that water could once again flow over it as originally designed. Previous repairs using sandbags had failed, leaving sections of the wall badly eroded.
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The work has not been without challenges. Because the repairs were being carried out in a wet, boggy area, volunteers had to use temporary boardwalks to transport materials across the swamp-like ground.
Spies said one of the unexpected discoveries was the number of crabs that had made their homes in the cracks between the old sandbags. The crabs were carefully relocated downstream before work continued.
While the current focus is on the spillway wall, Spies said further restoration will be needed downstream, where erosion has made parts of the area unsafe for the public. Future phases are expected to include gabion baskets and additional stabilisation work. “This isn’t a quick fix. There will be further stages of work, and we’ll need to raise additional funds to continue.”
She hopes the project encourages residents to become active participants in caring for their neighbourhoods. “People must realise that they can make a difference. If there’s something that isn’t right in your park or open space, don’t just complain and wait for government to fix it. You can be part of the solution.
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