“The heavy rains in August made it tough to keep up with our work while also bringing huge amounts of litter into rivers and the sea,” said Gordon Bradley, Project Manager of Friends of the Rivers of Hout Bay.
Despite these challenges, the team, joined by temporary worker Tawanda Misengwe, worked hard to collect litter every Monday and Friday. Their efforts focused on the river, wetlands, Northshore, Princess Road and Kadot River, as well as the beach and estuary.
To address the rising waste problem, the team collaborated with community groups like Frank Solomon and the Sentinel Oceans Alliance (SOA) for an emergency cleanup at Sandy Bay.
Bradley shared, highlighting the difficult task.
Beyond litter collection, the team worked on conservation projects. Sikelela Situndu and Kanyisa Vokwana, sponsored by the Scott Estate and Baviaanskloof CID (SEBCID) a group of locals that is always motivated to improve the environment within a defined area removed invasive plants from the Baviaanskloof River catchment and Kadot River to protect the endangered Cape Flats Dune Strandveld Fynbos biome.
“It’s crucial to protect this area from invasive species and human activities,” said Jemimah Birch, the project lead.
In August, the team collected 746 bags of litter weighing 1 582 kg, bringing their total to 27 478 kg since the project began.
“Our incredible sponsors and volunteers make all of this possible,” Bradley added, thanking those who support their efforts.
With ongoing conservation work and growing collaborations, the team hopes to inspire more community involvement to tackle Hout Bay’s litter problem and protect the neighbourhood’s natural beauty.
