Latest news with #ScalingUrbanNature-basedSolutionsforClimateAdaptation
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Artists transform Jukskei River waste into artwork
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. Read more: Where to dump your garden refuse and general waste in Johannesburg? 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.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Alex waste pickers have a new home to ply their trade At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
News24
26-04-2025
- General
- News24
Reviving Joburg's polluted Jukskei River
Local activists, artists and environmental experts are working together to revive the polluted Jukskei River, one of Johannesburg's largest rivers, GroundUp reports. The Jukskei River runs through many urban areas, including the densely populated township of Alexandra. During heavy rainfall, the river often bursts its banks causing flooding. Volunteers and activists have set up colourful litter traps where the river passes through Alexandra. The traps are made entirely out of recycled plastics woven together to make nets. Environmental experts have been advising community members on the best design for the handwoven litter traps. The traps catch discarded tyres, fibre-optic cables, and bricks eroded by the river. The nets have been placed at strategic locations along the river, accompanied by artworks made by local artists with materials salvaged from the river. This initiative is being implemented under SUNCASA (Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa) – a project led by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the World Resources Institute. In Johannesburg, the Jukskei project aims to plant more than 40 000 trees along the river and clear up the land with the help of community activists. Johannesburg-based artist Hannelie Coetzee and the Alexandra Water Warriors, a civic organisation with over 2 000 volunteers, have for years been working on cleaning and rehabilitating the Alexandra section of the Jukskei. Coetzee also recruited other artists who produced large sculptures along the river using material salvaged from the river. "I think it's been a missed opportunity for a very long time not to involve communities in this level of participation. It not only helps change the river system, but it also creates agency and buy-in from the community to maintain it. Art is not an add-on here, it is central to ecological restoration," said Coetzee. Paul Maluleke, a founder of the Alexandra Water Warriors, said the litter traps are emptied almost daily by community volunteers who take the waste to the AWW recycling station to be sorted and recycled. The plan is to roll the project out in other communities facing similar challenges. Dr Samiksha Singh earned her PhD in Environmental Science for her study on the impact of microplastics in river systems like the Jukskei. "Interventions like these are very important," she said, "because we need to make sure our water is clean and safe, not only for consumption, but for recreation in our communities." Singh said being part of the collaboration between scientists, local residents and artists had been "really interesting" and "felt like I was taking the knowledge I had learnt and using it to find practical solutions with real outcomes".
