Cape Town: The restoration of a section of the Elsieskraal River in Bellville is set to gain momentum through grant funding from the City of Cape Town. It will enable the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP) to expand community-led rehabilitation efforts in and around Elizabeth Park.
As one of the City’s 22 grant recipients for 2026, the GTP will use the funding to introduce indigenous wetland and riverine vegetation. It will also support community awareness initiatives and will strengthen local involvement in protecting this important urban waterway.
The Water and Sanitation Directorate of the City of Cape Town continues to support community-based organisations that are working to restore and protect local waterways and wetlands through its environmental grant funding programme.
Reportedly, the project will focus mainly on rehabilitating the Elsieskraal River in Elizabeth Park by introducing indigenous wetland and riverine vegetation that will help filter pollutants naturally. It will improve habitat conditions and enhance the ecological functioning of the river corridor.
Community clean-up and educational activities involve nearby property owners, student housing residents and daily park users, who complement the rehabilitation work. Through this integrated approach, GTP aims to encourage long-term stewardship of the area while improving the condition of the river and the surrounding environment.
On April 25, 2026, the GTP and its partners removed 312,81 kg of waste from the river and surrounding park area during a community clean-up. This highlighted both the environmental challenges facing the waterway and the value of community-led action.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien stated that the efforts of the GTP will contribute greatly to the health of the Elsieskraal River while helping to create a cleaner and more welcoming public space for residents and visitors to Elizabeth Park. Partnerships like these demonstrate the important role communities play in protecting and improving the local waterways.
GTP’s grant-funded project includes:
- Planting indigenous riverine and wetland vegetation in June 2026 to restore the river and wetland to improve water quality and habitat function.
- Hosting a community river clean-up event in Elizabeth Park on April 25, 2026 involving residents and park users with the support of the Litterboom Project.
Chief Operations Officer from the GTP – Nasmera Buckus said that the Elsieskraal River is more than a waterway, it is a shared community asset with the power to connect people, nature and place. They are incredibly grateful for this investment, which is enabling them to restore biodiversity, improve environmental health and inspire greater community ownership of the natural spaces.
Buckus added that every tree planted, every invasive species removed and every person engaged contributes to a stronger, greener and more resilient Bellville. Together, they are proving that lasting change happens when communities, partners and stakeholders come together around a shared vision.