Locals rallied together on Monday to clean up the Moganwe River in Saulsville in honour of World Wetlands Day.

The Soulbent Project NGO, joined by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, and aQuellé, among supporting roleplayers, conducted the clean-up.

February 2 marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.

The commemoration this year takes place under the global theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage”.

Wetlands encompass a wide range of habitats, including marshes, swamps, bogs and mangroves.

These ecosystems play an essential role in maintaining water quality, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change.

Wetlands are often miscategorised as wastelands, yet they are nature’s water filters, shields against floods and droughts, homes to rich biodiversity, and sources of food, culture, and livelihoods.

This year’s theme highlights the importance of traditional and indigenous knowledge in wetland management and the preservation of cultural identity.

The Tshwane metro also recently announced that throughout February, the Environment and Agricultural Management Department will commemorate the metro’s wetlands.

The metro will encourage dialogue and understanding of the connection between wetlands and cultural practices, raise awareness of the crucial role of wetlands in maintaining water quality, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change.

The metro will also address threats to wetlands, primarily those that stem from human activities and encourage community members to participate in preserving wetlands in their neighbourhoods.

“The clean-up demonstrated the power of collective action and reinforced the importance of wetlands in sustaining life, biodiversity, and healthy communities,” said Soulbent co-founder, Mashudu Makhado.

“Soulbent Project remains committed to working with communities and stakeholders to create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. Together, we protect our wetlands. Together, we protect our future.”

A special highlight of the day was the attendance of fellow co-founder Millicent Makhado, popularly known as Agnes from the SABC 2 TV series Muvhango.

In her address, she sincerely thanked the workers, community members, and stakeholders for their commitment to environmental preservation and encouraged continued collaboration in protecting natural resources.

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) also held its own commemoration through the Living Catchments Programme, joined by traditional healers and community custodians at the Itsoseng Wetland, in Winterveldt.

The celebration was led by the Department of Water and Sanitation in partnership with SA Biodiversity, Sanbi and the metro, alongside the Water Institute of Southern Africa, the Young Water Professionals South Africa, Environmental Warriors NPC, and Gauteng Region 1 Traditional Healers Practitioners.

This wetland, located upstream of a traditional healer’s site, serves locals as a place of healing, culture, and water security.

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