To restore the natural beauty of the Klein Jukskei Nature Trail, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo led a successful clean-up operation in the RiverWel area between the Cornelius bridge and the N1 highway.
The initiative, which took place on August 30, marks a significant step towards addressing the environmental challenges that have plagued the river for years. The news and members of the RiverWel Residents Association (RWRA) were on site and witnessed the workers from City Parks cut down unwanted trees and invasive species.
“The initial Annual River Clean Up in RiverWel was started about 15 years ago by the then committee, who thought it was a good idea for the residents to get to know each other and an opportunity to improve the environment. Many criminal activities were also originating from the greenbelt, causing concern among the residents,” Neville Burnett, who is an administrator at the RWRA, said.
According to Neville, the current state of the river is poor, with sewer leaks pouring into the river and many homeless people taking residence along the banks. Erosion is also a great concern especially now that the area is built up and water from the stormwater drains flows into the river. The effort will not only improve the aesthetic appeal of the area but also contribute to the health of the local ecosystem, which supports a variety of wildlife.
“We are very fortunate to have a team of City Parks members looking into and cutting down the many alien species of plants at present. We hope this is going to have a positive result for the area.
“At this year’s clean-up, RWRA will also be employing a tree feller to cut up and remove tree stumps that are blocking the flow of the river at the three bridges in RiverWel [Cornelius, Cockspur at Without]. If we don’t do this, we are sure to have another Spring Road bridge disaster when millions were spent constructing a new bridge,” he expressed.
Neville also shared that unfortunately, they do not get enough support from the residents for this initiative but hopefully this year it will change as they have CSS Community Support Services sponsoring hotdogs and cold drinks for residents helping with the clean-up.
“As the city and its residents work together to restore the Klein Jukskei River Trail, the clean-up serves as a hopeful sign of what can be achieved when communities unite for a common cause. With continued commitment and collaboration, the river that runs through Weltevreden Park may soon become a symbol of environmental stewardship and civic pride.”
