Pretoria east forum restores parts of Moreleta Spruit
The clean-up removed large amounts of trash, bottles and plastics and the sand dunes blocking drains were also unblocked.
The Pretoria East Community Care Forum (CCF) undertook an environmental conservation feat of restoring the section of the Moreleta Spruit that flows through the “White House” property in Moreleta Park.
This initiative was a collective effort to preserve the local ecology and prepare the spruit for the upcoming rainy season.
The once-clear waters of Moreleta Spruit have been contaminated by trash, plastic, and pollutants, posing a grave danger to the species and obstructing flow through nearby culverts.
The clean-up made sure that large amounts of trash, bottles and plastics were removed and the sand dunes blocking drains were also unblocked.
The spruit flows through the 17-hectare property on Wekker and Brabham streets in Moreleta Park, which has now been home to over 120 illegal dwellers, who have no intention of moving.
The “White House” property was left in good condition by its owner who relocated abroad several years ago, however, now plans to return and develop the property.
CCF founding director Deirdré van Helsdingen said the stream was in a state of environmental degradation.
She said it was polluted leading to ecological damage.
Van Helsdingen said the CCF workers with the help of the city’s Environmental department cleared the culverts.
“The culverts under the bridge were totally blocked due to the debris and trash and we removed the sand with buckets,” she said.
Van Helsdingen said the CCF removed all the rubbish from the river so that the water can have a natural flow.
She said the dwellers on the property have polluted the river and have been doing laundry, endangering the water wildlife with their washing soap and chemicals.
Van Helsdingen added that a clean spruit will ensure natural clean water flow towards the other areas.
She said they spent days cleaning the spruit as it was the first time in so many years it underwent a clean-up.
“Some days we had to work with face masks as the stench was terrible.”
Van Helsdingen said the people from Plastic View wash their clothes in the spruit leaving it very contaminated.
“I am representing the owner of the property, who lives abroad. We are busy with Township Establishment and development of the property so we need to clean the surroundings, including the spruit.”
She said the spruit was so dirty, leaving nature lovers in distress.
“However we cannot wait for the first big rain so that the spruit can flow with natural water which enriches the wildlife.”
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