In Alexandra, one of Johannesburg’s oldest and most densely populated townships, local residents are stepping into polluted waters to prevent environmental and humanitarian disaster. Wearing protective gear, volunteers wade into the Jukskei River to repair damaged waste-catching barriers after seasonal downpours tore them apart.
These floating traps are designed to intercept rubbish before it drifts downstream. Without them, debris accumulation can intensify flooding in low-lying neighborhoods, placing homes at serious risk during heavy storms.
A river narrowed by waste
Semadi Manganye, co-founder of the Alexandra Water Warriors, describes the river as highly vulnerable to sudden surges. According to him, uncontrolled dumping of construction rubble, stones and household waste has constricted the river channel, increasing the likelihood of flash floods.
The consequences are visible when bridges are submerged, cutting off access routes and preventing children from reaching school. For Alexandra’s more than half a million residents, seasonal flooding is not an abstract threat but a recurring reality.
Grassroots action in the shadow of wealth
Alexandra lies only a short distance from Sandton, the country’s leading financial hub. The stark contrast highlights the broader inequalities that persist in South Africa, one of the continent’s most advanced yet deeply unequal economies.
Formed in 2021, the Alexandra Water Warriors have taken on multiple environmental initiatives. Beyond clearing refuse from the river, the group plants indigenous trees to help cool overheated urban areas and promotes recycling efforts to convert collected waste into usable materials or income-generating products.
Volunteers say their work has significantly reduced visible pollution along the riverbanks. Without consistent clean-up operations and functioning waste barriers, they believe the area would quickly become overwhelmed by garbage.
Climate pressure and global attention
As global leaders gather in Johannesburg for the upcoming Group of 20 summit, climate resilience and disaster response are high on the agenda. South Africa is urging wealthier nations and international lenders to expand support for countries facing climate-driven risks.
In Alexandra, such debates translate into immediate action. Community members continue to remove debris, repair protective systems and raise awareness, seeking to shield their township from floods that grow more severe with each season.
