Water Warriors partner with City, remove 80 bags of waste from the Diep River
15 April 2026
As one of the 22 successful recipients of Water and Sanitation grant funding, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is inspiring tertiary students to initiate river clean-ups and raise awareness in schools to reduce pollution in Dunoon.
Following several site visits in consultation with City officials and community leaders, coordinators of CPUT’s Water Warriors Programme (WWP) identified a clean-up of the Diep River as an immediate priority. They focused on a section of the river, which runs along the N7 and Ekuphumlani Informal Settlement in Dunoon, which is chronically polluted due to urbanisation and illegal dumping.
The coordinators of the WWP equipped a group of 20 CPUT student volunteers with the essential knowledge and skills that they required in environmental awareness, ahead of their activation. First, a training session was held in November 2025, followed by a successful clean-up at the end of March 2026. Representatives from the local community leadership also participated, showing their support for the initiative.
The volunteers also gained valuable insights from eco-activist Zoe Prinsloo of Save a Fishie, who shared her expertise and experiences in leading community clean-up campaigns.
‘Through the City’s grant funding programme, we are providing resources to help community-led initiatives get off the ground. By supporting residents to take ownership, we can see a marked improvement in the cleanliness of the local environment and protection of critical water and sanitation infrastructure. This project in Dunoon is a strong example of how partnerships between the City, academic institutions and local communities can make a real impact in combating water pollution,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
CPUT runs the Water Warriors Programme to transfer skills related to environmental education to university students, who in turn are encouraged to establish extra-curricular activities at primary and high schools, which promote environmental conservation and water resource management.
Edutainment is also incorporated with dance, drama and quiz competitions designed to keep learners excited about participating in environmental activities throughout the year. This implementation of community-led projects to address pollution in urban waterways is being done through the Communications and Partnerships Branch at Water and Sanitation.
‘This Water Warriors project served as a meaningful community engagement initiative, providing CPUT students with a valuable opportunity make a positive contribution to the community of Dunoon. By rolling up their sleeves and participating, our students gained practical experience that empowers them to become effective agents of change; while also inspiring younger generations to adopt a similar sense of responsibility and civic-mindedness and environmental awareness,’ said Melani Hara, Student Development Practitioner from CPUT.
Caption 1: CPUT Water Warriors Programme volunteers remove waste from a heavily polluted section of the Diep River near Dunoon during a clean-up in March 2026.
Caption 2: City of Cape Town officials and CPUT Water Warriors Programme volunteers on site in Dunoon following the clean-up initiative.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
