Jukskei River should look cleaner after Spruit Day
LONEHILL – This is how important it is to make sure that the Jukskei River is clean.
The community of Ward 94 sprung into action on Spruit Day in a citywide clean-up of the Jukskei River between Lonehill and Glenferness.
Residents joined Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, and Ward 94 councillor David Foley for the initiative which also formed part of the A Re Sebetseng campaign.
The chairperson of the Greater Kyalami Conservancy (Gekco), Kristen Kallesen, said it was the fourth anniversary of Spruit Day in which members of residents’ associations have been coming together to clean up along the Braamfontein Spruit and Jukskei.
“The residents’ associations are looking to partner with the City going forward in keeping the river clean,” she said.
The river water had a foamy substance and according to Region A’s Environmental Health specialist, Jan van Niekerk, the reason was due to sewage pollution, which was called diffuse pollution (not one-point-source pollution) as it spreads along the catchment area.
“Due to the fact that the river is connected to the stormwater system, it reflects on the community’s behaviour to the river,” he said.
“As I look at the litter around the banks, I can see that the community hasn’t been behaving quite well to the river [sic].”
Van Niekerk explained that the Jukskei flowed into the Crocodile River and from there into Hartbeespoort Dam. The water in the dam is used for irrigation and water consumption.
He added that the water then flowed into the Limpopo River and then into the Indian Ocean.
“Therefore, anybody who is polluting here might be killing a dolphin or a turtle in the ocean, hence it is very important to pick up the rubbish here at the Jukskei River,” Van Niekerk said.
Foley added that most of the rubbish in the Jukskei River in the Ward 94 area allegedly came from the inner city.
“This was a well-attended clean-up campaign and it is wonderful to see community members come in their numbers to help clean up the river,” he concluded.
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