Fighting pollution in the Jukskei River

Alexandra, Johannesburg – Gauteng

Where the Jukskei River runs through the township of Alexandra it becomes a dumping ground. Illegal dumping of rubble is a massive problem followed by dumping of household waste by those who live in informal structures along the river banks. 

Efforts to restore the river have been an ongoing challenge for years with not much success. But a volunteer group, called the Alexandra Water Warriors, continue to work to curb the dumping, to find opportunities around waste recycling and to network with others to bring some life back into the critical Joburg waterway. 

What was the problem?

The Jukskei River had become choked up with household rubbish and building rubble for decades. The river no longer supports life and is contaminated. It’s become a flood risk because the river can’t flow as easily and it is an eyesore.

But because people live right on its banks in some parts of the townships, the river is also people’s only source of water to flush and to wash. This makes the river a health risk for people and livestock.  

How are they fixing it?

Local resident Paul Maluleke set up the NGO, Alexandra Water Warriors in 2017 with the hope that parts of Alex could be cleaned up to be a tourist destination. He also had aims that “waste could be treasure”, through recycling and that this could spark job creation, he told Alex FM.

They have worked with the City of Johannesburg to have the Johannesburg Metro Police patrol for illegal dumping and have recruited community patrollers to be the ears and eyes for the metro cops. The Alex Water Warriors also set up a recycling station to encourage people to dispose of their waste correctly and they started a litter trap project along the river. They also worked to set up a recycling station for reclaimers to recover recyclables they can make some money off of. They also partnered with others to boost the efforts to keep the river clean. Over the years these partners have included working with other NGOs like Action for Responsible Management of Our Rivers and also with SUNCASA (Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa) in 2025. This project brought artists onboard to turn waste from the river into art. While the hard work continues, so do the growing efforts of this community organisation to save their river. 

What makes it work

• Keeping the community’s priorities in mind – The non-profit focuses on environmental health through understanding the community’s need for solutions like job creation and entrepreneurship.

• Building relationships with the authorities – Working with the city council and its agencies, including the metro police, means attention from the authorities to meet their responsibilities to patrol and to have a presence in the township.

• Finding local solutions – Solutions are low-tech and low maintenance. It includes recycling stations, waste traps and employing community patrollers to stop illegal dumping. 

• Using the media – Telling their story to the media raises awareness for what the group of activists are trying to do to restore the river. 

• Collaborating and networking – The Alex Water Warriors have worked with other NGOs and groupings, who have different projects but are all focused on making the Jukskei healthy again. 

• Keeping up the fight – The Alex Water Warriors carry on with their work even as the dumping is at crisis point in the river. Not quitting matters!

Acknowledgements:

Author: FixLocal reporter

Additional articles/ sources: 

TheMidDayCruise Interview with Paul Maluleke from Water Warriors

Calls for solutions to fix pollution of Jukskei River near Alex as volunteers fight ongoing battle

Photograph: Alaister Russell/ Timeslive