After several years of trial and error, the trash traps created by Willem Snyman in the Kaalspruit, located in Olifantsfontein, Ekurhuleni, received deserved recognition on Tuesday.
The Kaalspruit River flows through Tembisa, with most of the plastic pollution accumulating specifically in Olifantsfontein. From there, the water enters the Hennops River, which flows into the Crocodile River, then into the Hartbeespoort Dam, and finally into the Limpopo River.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), once plastic spreads downstream, it is almost impossible to recover. Therefore, intercepting the pollution as close to the source as possible is the best option, especially during rains.
Deputy Minister of DWS, Dr. Jack Bloom, joined residents and volunteers to clean the river and officially open the traps. Bloom called these devices an innovative set of trash traps on the Kaalspruit. These traps were installed by Snyman—an inspiring artist and activist who founded the Fresh NGO (Fresh River Hennops Environmental Protection Fund).
Traps intercept waste before it spreads downstream
According to DWS, Willem installed eight polystyrene traps and seven lines of plastic bag traps along the river and canyon. Most of them are suspended on 100-meter cables and stretch for 800 meters.
Bloom reported that Snyman covered a significant portion of the costs himself, and the project provides employment for people from the local community to clean the traps. They collect a huge amount of waste. Sometimes Willem's team fills a 30 cubic meter container, mostly with polystyrene left by recyclers, as well as illegally dumped construction debris.
He also noted that not only trash is dumped here. Bloom expressed concern that serial killings of young women have occurred near this location, and the body of one of the victims was found entangled in one of these trash traps.
Bloom stated that Willem sees a symbolic connection between the abuse of this river and the terrible abuse of women. He is working on creating a memorial park for the murdered. This river needs to be cleaned, and we need to cleanse society of the evil of gender-based violence.
The project depends on community volunteers
He clarified that these traps are on municipal land with the approval of the City of Ekurhuleni. Bloom highly praised this partnership. However, according to Bloom, the trash trap only works if someone empties it. When the trap is full, it can overflow or become blocked, so Fresh NGO needs volunteers and partners to maintain the cleanliness of the traps.