Cape Town: The Water and Sanitation Directorate’s 2026 grant funding recipients – Lokshin Pioneers, hosted Project Khuseleka, which means ‘to be protected’. The Gugulethu-based organisation implemented a series of community initiatives that aim at addressing illegal dumping, sewer blockages and flooding in the area.
Reportedly, as part of the 22 community organisations in partnership with the Water and Sanitation Directorate – Lokshin Pioneers is working with residents in Gugulethu, Nyanga and the Borchard’s Quarry precinct. They are working altogether to develop practical solutions that reduce the impact of flooding in their areas.
The Borchard’s Quarry precinct is situated as a gateway between Nyanga and Gugulethu, and experiences frequent drain and sewer-related blockages. This contributes to flooding near informal dwellings, especially during periods of heavy rain.
Illegal dumping into the Gugulethu Canal further exacerbates these challenges by restricting water flow. With support from the community, Lokshin Pioneers hosted awareness-raising initiatives, which includes:
Khuseleka Clean-up and Awareness campaign held on 29 May 2026 at the Gugulethu Canal.
During this campaign, local residents and volunteers removed 150 bags of waste from the waterway. A ‘No Dumping’ sign was also installed to further discourage illegal dumping.
Khuseleka Career Expo held on 25 March 2026 at the J.L. Zwane Centre in Gugulethu.
Over 160 learners from Luzuko, Ilitha and Sokhanyo Primary Schools attended the expo to learn about future career opportunities and to understand the role that various departments play during natural disasters. Presentations were made by the City’s Water and Sanitation, Urban Waste Management and Disaster Risk Management departments.
Considering this, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien stated that the community-driven initiatives are instrumental in increasing local participation in environmental stewardship and water conservation.
Their partners, Lokshin Pioneers, are challenging the community to re-evaluate behavioural root causes of blockages, which lead to flooding in their surroundings. Badroodien said that through education, these efforts are helping to change mindsets and encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration for a cleaner environment.
Founder of Lokshin Pioneers – Sithembele Ntaba said that they feel that the partnership with the City of Cape Town was a great success and that they increased community awareness about the dangers of illegal dumping.