Students from various schools in Tshwane, mothers, fathers and teachers recently partook in a cleanup of one of Pretoria’s most polluted rivers.
Crawford International Pretoria recently partnered with Hennops River Revival to host the clean-up of the Hennops river to celebrate Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22
Crawford International Pretoria spokesperson Phindi Nako said the clean-up was part of their outreach and wildlife and environment society of South Africa (WESSA) programme.
She said that the aim of this initiative was to teach the students the importance of recycling, keeping the environment clean, and making a difference in the world.
Nako said the first river clean-up was last year at Irene Farm.
She said that it was an eye-opener for them to see how many bags of rubbish were collected from the river, but still, there was hardly any change.
“We teach students the importance of saving the planet. We need to lead by example and sometimes get shocked by the extent of the problem,” she said.
She said one of the challenges that they faced this and the previous year was that they could remain close to the river for too longer because of the smell.
She added that it was a physical exercise that was emotionally and physically tiring.
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Image: Suppled
Hennops Revival founder Tarryn Johnson said that they managed to remove 81 bags of waste from the riverbanks in two hours.
She said that removing the waste helped prevent harmful pollutants from entering the waterways and endangering local wildlife.
“It was heartwarming to witness the enthusiasm and dedication of these young leaders as they rolled up their sleeves and dove into action,” she said.
Johnson said that despite coming from different schools and backgrounds, the learners united in common purpose: to safeguard natural resources for future generations.
“Their passion for preserving our environment and protecting our precious waterways was truly inspiring,” she said.
Crawford International staff member Lizet Buhrman said she gets emotional every time she gets close to the river for a clean-up.
She said it was even harder for her the first time because she could not control her emotions.
“All your senses get sick. It is not only the horrible colour of the water, but what you see, pick up, and smell is devastating,” she said.
Buhrman said it is important to get more people involved in the river clean-up initiatives.
“The message needs to spread, and we need to keep on spreading it, though we might get disheartened. It starts with us, and we need to be the voice of a dying mother earth,” she said.
She urged people to get their families, schools, or companies involved in making the change.
Johnson thanked all the participants who helped clean the river for their hard work and commitment to making a positive difference in the environment.
She said that this serves as an example of the incredible impact that individuals, no matter their age, can have on their communities and the planet.
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