The section of Braamfontein Spruit bank that runs through the Field and Study Park recently received a good clean-out from a group of learners from St Stithians College.
Learners from the Community Engagement Committees of both the boys and girls colleges spent their Saturday morning sprucing up the spruit, collecting over 40 bags of waste. Other items such as an electrical kettle, plastic buckets, plastic sheeting and blankets were also discovered along the riverbanks.
According to Friends of Field and Study chairperson Rose Johnson, it is wonderful to see the learners taking on the initiative. “We thank each and every person from St Stithians who gave up their leisure time to take part in the clean-up of the riverbank.”
Boys’ College director of community engagement Dr Glays Ayaya noted that the committee was a way for the learners to make a practical difference in their neighbourhood.
“Often these activities are motivated through geography and life orientation classes and other projects have included work with homeless children and senior citizens.”
Ayaya added that the learners and teachers also plan to follow up with the relevant stakeholders on the current state of the Braamfontein Spruit.
This includes discussing the importance of an educational project along the spruit about the proper disposal methods of unwanted items with the City of Johannesburg, and regular water testing and the establishment of a development plan to improve the quality of the water in the river with Johannesburg Water.
“[We also need] to look at methods to prevent the massive erosion of the river banks which have caused entire trees to fall over into the river,” said Ayaya.
As a result of the clean-up project, the learners and teachers hope to one day see the river transformed into a clean habitat that will encourage more life in the river, and more birds and wildlife in the area.
“We [at the Friends of the Field and Study] all join you in wanting this dream to come true,” concluded Johnson.
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