Artists transform Jukskei River waste into artwork

The Citizen

03-05-2025

Jukskei river was once an eyesore in Alexandra, but now, as artists find ways to turn waste into artwork, it is becoming a tourist attraction site. The Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) Community Litter Trap and Art Project, which was launched on April 16 in collaboration with Hannelie Coetzee, Alexandra Water Warriors, The Kula Marolen Foundation, and The ART Collective, breathes life into the once polluted river and neglected riverbanks.
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The project has enabled the Alex community to turn waste dumped into the river into artistic river cleaning installations and public art. This is to address flooding, and to improve biodiversity, amongst other things. Additionally, as residents say, the project is also part of the efforts to transform Alex into a tourist destination with rich heritage.
The recently launched litter trap and art project was implemented under SUNCASA, a three-year initiative aimed at revitalising the Upper Jukskei River catchment through nature-based solutions.
David van Niekerk, CEO of the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership, said the goal was not only to install litter traps, but to change how they were perceived. 'The idea was to build five more, as part of this project, and I said to them: 'How can we change the way it is perceived, because it is not a beautiful thing, there's litter'. So, the idea came… Let us bring in art,' he noted, adding that the idea was to: 'Turn the rather unsightly litter traps into vibrant community spaces, by activating them through public art installations.'
He said the spaces could serve as a place where locals and tourists could learn about the river and nature-based approaches. The project was led by Coetzee, and, in collaboration with local artists, they brought ways and stories to clean the polluted river. They transformed some of the waste materials salvaged from the river into masterpieces and used them as installations which prevents the build-up of waste in the Jukskei River.
Also read: A guide to responsible e-waste disposal in Gauteng
The project gave birth to the stunning: Alexandra River Creatures series (2025), which is comprised of sculptures that were creatively made from debris taken out of the river.
Reflecting on the project, Paul Maluleke, founder of Alexandra Water Warriors, said: 'What we have done is to clean our image as Alexandra. Alexandra has been perceived as a dirty place, plagued by rats, but then, from the tourism point of view, we realised that there is so much that we can do.'
He noted that they want to rehabilitate the Jukskei River, and transform it into a tourism attraction. 'It must have art installations. It must be safe and clean, and there must be employment.'
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Related article: Alex waste pickers have a new home to ply their trade
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