Just on the outskirts of the sophistication of Sandton CBD lies an informal settlement called Alexandra. A group of us - about 20 journalism students, went on a short tour of the township.Our main concern was about the river that runs through it -the Jukskei.
Kim Kieser CEO and founder of the SOUL (Save Our Universal Land)Foundation joined us with other members of her team.
The SOUL foundation in conjunction with WET- Africa (Waterway and Environment Transformation) are committed to rehabilitation of 67km of the Jukskei River.
Urbanisation has taken place and so the water has been canalised increasing its speed to about 60 times more - making it more dangerous during the rainy season causing flash floods.
The river which flows through Bez Valley starts out at the Ellis Park below the rugby field.It flows through the suburbs of Bertrams,Bez Valley and Kensington.It passes Bruma where a lake was built, shops,businesses and a craft market were developed in this area at a later stage.From Bruma Lake the river passes through Bedfordview to Gilloolys Farm where once again it has been canalised forming a small lake in a popular picnic area.From Gilloolys Farm the river continues north,past Alexandra Township, until it joins several other rivers,such as the Olifants and Crocodile at the Hartbeestpoort Dam .The water from this dam flows into a tributary of the Limpopo River,which eventually reaches the Indian Ocean.
Alexandra township was originally built (Eastbank) for the All Africa games village in 2002 and 2003 when the informal settlement sprang up.
The place has been a dumping ground since and breeding ground for acriminal activity.It costs the council over 6 billion to fix annually.If the waste is recycled it can generate 6 billion. Eco-friendly approaches and cleanup campaigns have been put in place by the Alexandra Renewal Project(ARP).
A sytematic and sustainable change is needed from the side of the community as well.They need to take ownership of their community.The dumping and throwing of garbage need to stop. People from WET-Africa/SOUL Foundation patrol the areas(in yellow jackets) and ensure that those who dump garbage or spill chemicals into the river will be fined.
The ARP is looking at introducing, horse-riding cycling and the growing of vegetable gardens
to get the community invilved and generate income.
Kieser said:" To heal the river,you need to work with the community and get them involved."
Povery alleviation and service delivery go hand in hand.It seems like the people who live in the garbage do not see past it.Kieser mentioned the litter/garbage crisis that parts of New York was facing and how the Mayor Rudolph Guiliani at the time (2005) went about to solve the problem.
Guilani said:"If you fix a broken window,crime moves out".
Other areas that were visted were Vasco Da Gama and Hofmeyer bridges.In particular we visited Queen street(on a hill in Bez Valley) where we had aerial view of Ellis Park(sorce of the Jukskei).We went to the Bez Valley to see the storm water system,through which the Jukskei flows.An elderly man told us about the dangers that kids face(drownings) when playing nearby and open drainage system.
No comments:
Post a Comment