Spruit Day unites Paulshof
PAULSHOF - Paulshof residents, school pupils and environmental groups unified to clean up the Paulshof section of the Braamfontein Spruit for Spruit Day.
Spruit Day was a simultaneously timed effort by resident associations and stakeholder groups from Melville to Paulshof to tackle environmental issues along the spruit. There were two meeting points for Paulshof residents, one being the section of the spruit on Capricorn Road and the other being the section at the Rivonia Stables on Achter Road.
Residents used these meeting points as bases, but walked along and waded through the river to pick up litter and maintain the river banks. While there was a small number of residents who turned up at Capricorn Road the small group managed to achieve big things, cutting the grass near the spruit, clearing up litter and clearing away alien foliage.
While clearing, the group found evidence of shelters being built in the area around the spruit which indicates that vagrants may have been living there. They also found numerous traps and snares which they suspect were being used by the vagrants to poach rabbits and hedgehogs for food. The residents decided that it was imperative that regular clearing be done in this area to protect the animals living around the river and maintain the security of the area.
The Achter Road section of the Spruit boasted a better turnout from residents. There were also many school pupils who decided to help out on the day and non-profit environmental organisation, Green Beings. Alex Frost of Green Beings conducted water testing on the Paulshof section of the Spruit and found that while the river was largely modified, meaning that external influences such as sewage and alien vegetation were greatly impacting the water, the pH of the water was 7.5 which indicated that the water was neutral and acid mine drainage was not taking place.
Altogether the residents and pupils managed to collect 89 bags of litter from in and around the river. They also found wallets, mattresses and clothes in the river and a school bag containing a laptop and stationery. The items have been handed over to the Paulshof Residents and Ratepayers Association for safekeeping until the owners can be traced. Spruit Day brought the Paulshof community together where young and old shared their love and concern for the environment, and mobilised to make a difference in their community.
