The Spaanschemats River flows 5km from Silverhurst Drive to the M3 motorway in Constantia, passing through both public and private land.
The scope of work to clear the river pathway includes litter collection and removal, unblocking outlets and mini silt traps, trimming alien invasive plants, and exposing stormwater infrastructure such as pipes, gabions, and headwalls along the river’s boundaries. Much of the work is done by hand, with teams working steadfastly on the ground.
Following that, machinery will be used to dredge silt, resulting in a smoother hydraulic flow of water, which is especially important before the rainy season to reduce flood risk and property damage. The initiative also seeks to restore natural habitat and encourage the return of fauna and flora to the greenbelt area.In 2023, the City used manual labour to clear a small section of the river following a flooding incident.
‘This project forms part of the City’s proactive river maintenance programme which seeks to improve inland water quality as one of the City’s Mayoral Priority Programmes, as well as for flood alleviation ahead of winter rainfall. The City invested R700 000 into this much-needed work in the Spaanschemats River, which is expected to conclude by the end of June 2024. On this project we were able to employ up to 40 locals,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation Zahid Badroodien.