River Wardens ushering a brighter, greener and safer future for the City
03 November 2023
On Wednesday, the City of Cape Town’s Spatial Planning and Environment Mayoral Committee Member and Deputy Mayor, Alderman Eddie Andrews, visited the Table Bay Nature Reserve’s Rietvlei section to observe the impact of the Mayors Priority Programme (MPP) River Wardens work. The first group of MPP River Wardens was recruited last year and the programme’s job creation target was 90 job opportunities. The City has surpassed this and managed to create a total of 204 job opportunities in the 2022/23 financial year.
In October 2011, the City of Cape Town launched a river cleaning project called the Kader Asmal Integrated Catchment Management Project, in honour of the late Professor Kader Asmal. An offshoot of this project was the 2012 Kader Asmal River Warden Programme, which sought to revitalise the City's natural landscapes while transforming the lives of inhabitants. This initiative placed River Wardens at the forefront of preserving our environment, improving water quality, and creating employment opportunities that enrich our communities.
‘The River Wardens have become the unsung heroes of our City, ensuring that our rivers and wetlands thrive, and our people live in a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant urban environment,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
Through the City’s Mayoral Priority Programme (MPP) resident River Wardens are housed at Rietvlei, Zandvlei and False Bay Nature Reserve. Some 204 job opportunities have been created under this Programme since 2022.
The primary objective of the River Warden Programme is to enhance ecosystem health in the City’s catchment areas. Going above and beyond existing services, the program champions the eradication of invasive plant species, facilitates the rehabilitation activities along our waterways, litter collection and removal, and maximises job prospects for local residents. Through accredited training and on-the-job skill development, River Wardens are equipped to be more competitive in the job market, opening doors to new opportunities for their personal and professional growth.
Their daily duties include the following:
• Manually clearing/harvesting filamentous algae and pondweed in frequently utilised recreational zones.
• Water Hyacinth Control (mostly from the banks and canals).
• Loading harvested material on trucks to be carted away.
• Invasive aquatic and terrestrial plant species clearing.
• Reed control.
• Litter collection in and along natural waterways.
• Vlei bank revegetation.
• Responding to environmental emergency mitigation efforts (when fish die off and oil/sewer spill response).
• Erecting fencing along aquatic sections.
• Pathway maintenance.
• Infrastructure maintenance (Bird hides and Jetties).
The programme’s emphasis on job creation plays a pivotal role in reducing crime rates as well. Meaningful employment opportunities provide an alternative path for many who might otherwise turn to criminal activities.
‘I am so proud of our colleagues as well as the work that River Wardens are doing here. Their efforts are setting a new standard of cleanliness for all communities, enhancing the multifunctional landscape of our city and providing vital 'green lungs' that mitigate the pressures of urbanisation. These green spaces like Table Bay Nature Reserve have become sanctuaries, offering relief from the hustle and bustle of urban life, while also improving air quality, fostering biodiversity and enhancing the overall well-being of our citizens,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
High resolution images are available here: https://bit.ly/3SpahaJ
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
