Annual river clean-up yet again a success despite lacklustre turnout
A number of volunteers from Weltevreden Park made time on Sunday, 2 September to clean up the Klein Jukskei River.
More than 20 residents in the RiverWel Residents Association (RWRA) area came out in support of the Annual River Clean-up.
The clean-up, which has been run by RWRA for more than 15 years, is aimed at cleaning up the greenbelt that stretches through Weltevreden Park and Randpark Ridge. Part of the greenbelt is the Klein Jukskei River, which is the main target of the clean-up as many vagrants live along the river.
The river and the greenbelt are also common dumping sites for many individuals, with several miscellaneous items such as unopened cat food and even hollow sub-woofer cases lying at the river’s edge. The clean-up has become such an integral part of RWRA’s calendar, that even past chairmen return to assist with the efforts.This year, a rather meagre group of 20 to 30 people pitched up for the clean-up, a figure that didn’t sit too well with RWRA chairman, Kevin Thomson. “Considering the number of individuals we’ve got as members of our RA [residents’ association] to only have this few people is rather disappointing,” he said. “While the turnout was minimal, the work that was done by those who did pitch up, was amazing.”
The clean-up is something that residents of all ages could attend, a fact that was proven by little Hunter Leite, who filled up two refuse bags on his own. A few families pitched up, and turned the three-hour clean-up into a family affair.
At the end of the clean-up, Pikitup collected the refuse that was collected from the river, with those who took part coming together for a boerewors roll and a cold beverage afterwards.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at northsider@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
