The Clean Our Harties initiative, hosted by Wessa Northern Areas, was a resounding success.
The main focus of the clean up was to re-establish the ecosystem around the Hartbeespoort Dam and to encourage bird life to return to the dam and surrounding areas.
Volunteers came to assist from near and far. Members of the Cetric Foundation out of Diepsloot came to assist with the hope to not only make a difference, but to educate the people who make use of the Jukskei and Hennops Rivers for their livelihood. Volunteers from different countries formed a group called The Scientology Volunteer Ministers that came to help in terms of disaster management. Their members came from as far as United States, South Africa, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Russia, Zimbabwe, Hungary and Italy.
The Methodist Church of Harties, Eco Berry Strawberry Farm, Remax, Schoemansville Resort, Express Recycling as well as members of Birdlife Harties, Wessa Northern Areas Region and Rotary Club of Brits Hartbeespoort also formed teams that took on the enormous task of cleaning as much of the area as possible.
The teams were able to collect an astonishing four trucks loads of rubbish with an astonishing 1 020 refuse bags from 06:00 – 12:00 on only one shoreline of 6 km.
Express Recycling collected and removed the rubbish and took it to be recycled.
The sponsors that made the day possible are Wessa Northern Areas Region, Rotary Club of Brits Hartbeespoort, Schoemansville Resort, Oxwagen Lodge, Mugg & Bean, Vovotelo, Panarottis, Remax, The Water Shop / Aquapulita, Express Recycling, Plastics SA and Eco Berry Strawberry Farm.
“We would like to thank each and every individual that attended and assisted on Saturday and we hope to see them again as well as many more new volunteers for the upcoming clean ups,” WESSA said.
Future clean ups will add the hyacinth problem to the focus as well as more shorelines.
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“This takes a lot of planning and resources and we will need a lot of help.”
Those who wish to support the initiative and volunteer at future clean ups, can contact Jo Dreyer on 083 454 1544 or at jodreyer14@gmail.com