Support the guardians of Aller River

A NEED to educate people about conserving water and hosting regular river clean-ups is among the main objectives of the Aller River Project.

The initiative, officially launched in October last year, is a flagship project of the eThekwini Conservancies Forum that aims to restore the condition of the rivers across the eThekwini Municipality.

The seven Eco-champs, a key element of the Aller River Pilot Project, were excited when the municipality provided them with a project office at the Sizakala Service Centre in Clermont.

Aller River Project liaison officer, Thozeka Ntlukwane said they were grateful to ward 92 councillor, Jabu Dlamini and Ward 21 councillor, Mfanah Qwabe for providing an office at the Sizakala Centre as they use to meet under a tree.

“We have many educational activities that we are involved in as we need to educate children about the importance and role of rivers in the environment and how to take care of them. People need to know that without the rivers, we will have no water as the rivers supply the dams,” she said.

Ntlukwane said it is such a shame that people are throwing all kinds of rubbish into the rivers.

“There are so many things that people can do with their waste and even get money by recycling it. That would really help as most landfill sites are full.”

With the climate changing and industries dumping chemicals in the rivers, Ntlukwane said there is a need for people to be educated about them as their slogan says, ‘Take Back Our Rivers’.

“I really do not know why people are using rivers as dumping grounds. We use to swim in, wash clothes and drink the water from the rivers but now we cannot do that anymore. Our children cannot swim in the rivers because of the rubbish, chemicals and the smell. Even the animals that live in the rivers are dying and the birds are moving away,” she added.

Ntlukwane urged companies to stop dumping their chemicals in the river as it causes a lot of damage.

“They also need to come to the party so that they can teach their employees about the importance of the rivers. During the river clean-ups, we find lots of things, even aborted babies which people throw in the sewerage.

“We had people ask why the dams are always low even when there is rain. They do not understand that most of the rain water gets wasted in the rivers because it get absorbed by all the rubbish and the alien invasive plants,” she said.

The new office is in need of some equipment and they are appealing to anyone who can assist.

Ntlukwane also thanked Paolo Candotti from the Kloof Conservancy and Mark Liptrot from uThekwane Conservancy who donated two computers.

l Anyone who can assist can contact Thozeka Ntlukwane on 082 431 9945 or email Paolo Candotti on info@kloofconservancy.org.za.