Cape Town river is now 14 tonnes of litter cleaner

More than 14 tonnes of litter have been removed from the Soet River in the Helderberg as part of an environmental restoration project aimed at improving the waterway and raising awareness about pollution.

The project was carried out by local non-governmental organisation Making a Change between April 2025 and June 2026, with grant funding from the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate.

The initiative included mechanical and manual river clean-ups, litter sorting and removal, as well as the rehabilitation of a blocked culvert to improve water flow.

About 80 volunteers took part in three clean-up operations, assisting with collecting and sorting waste, site support and specialised culvert rehabilitation.

Residents living along the Soet River and in surrounding communities were also involved through environmental discussions and awareness activities.

Documentary-style videos were produced to highlight the impact of river pollution and encourage more responsible litter disposal.

The City of Cape Town said partnerships with community organisations help support its efforts to protect local waterways.

“We value the contribution of organisations and residents who are willing to get involved and make a difference in their communities,” said Alderman Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

“These partnerships complement the City’s work and help build greater awareness of the importance of keeping our waterways clean and protecting them for future generations,” he said.

Making a Change representative Dean van Schalkwyk said the project was particularly meaningful because members of the organisation live in the Helderberg.

“For us, the Soet River project is deeply personal. The Making a Change team is from the Helderberg, and this river runs through the community we call home,” Van Schalkwyk said.

He said residents had watched pollution build up in the river over several years.

“Many of us have driven past it for years and watched the pollution build up, so being able to take part in restoring it meant much more than simply completing a project,” he said.

The project combined physical rehabilitation of the river with environmental education, highlighting the importance of community involvement in keeping waterways free of litter.