Cape Town: Healthy rivers and wetlands depend on communities to protect them. Through indigenous gardening, environmental education and hands-on involvement in conservation, a local initiative by the City of Cape Town is making its mark. Steenberg residents have supported WESSA’s partnership with the City by becoming custodians of the Sandvlei Catchment and advocated for water resilience in their neighbourhood.
Through its grant funding, the Water and Sanitation Directorate of the City of Cape Town is supporting the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) Southern Suburbs Branch, in implementing it’s ‘Roots of Resilience’ project in the Steenberg community. The initiative combines indigenous gardening, biodiversity conservation and practical activities which can become sustainable household practices in stewardship of water conservation.
Achievements of this project includes:
- Removing approximately 90kg of litter and illegally dumped waste from the local catchment and surrounding public open spaces.
- Establishing five volunteer indigenous home gardens.
- Planting approximately 200 indigenous Cape Flats Dune Strandveld plants during the rehabilitation of Woodwind Park.
- Delivering environmental education workshops, excursions and catchment clean-ups supported by 94 local participants.
About WESSA Southern Suburbs
WESSA Southern Suburbs is a volunteer-led branch, operating under the WESSA Western Cape Region. It works with local communities, schools, community organisations and partners across the Cape Flats and southern suburbs to support grassroots environmental initiatives that contribute to healthier ecosystems and more resilient neighbourhoods.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien stated that this project empowers residents to understand how their daily actions affect the health of local rivers, wetlands and stormwater systems. It’s encouraging when community members work side-by-side to preserve the environment and it’s great to see how some have beautified their gardens with water resilient plants.
Considering this, Chairperson of WESSA Southern Suburbs Branch – Chelsey Bevie stated that the City of Cape Town’s support has enabled WESSA Southern Suburbs to translate environmental education into meaningful community action.
Through the Roots of Resilience project, they have empowered children, youth and adults with practical skills in indigenous gardening, catchment stewardship and biodiversity conservation, while creating lasting environmental improvements in the local community. The funding has supported restoration activities and has also strengthened community ownership of the shared natural spaces and inspired continued environmental stewardship.