CPUT students removed 80 bags of waste from the Diep River in Dunoon, demonstrating how partnerships between communities, academia and the City can reduce pollution.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), one of the 22 recipients of Water and Sanitation grant funding, is mobilising tertiary students to take action against water pollution while building environmental awareness in schools across Dunoon.
Following site visits conducted with City officials and community leaders, coordinators of the Water Warriors Programme identified a section of the Diep River near the N7 and Ekuphumlani Informal Settlement as a priority due to ongoing urbanisation pressures and illegal dumping.
A team of 20 CPUT student volunteers participated in environmental awareness training in November 2025 before completing a successful clean-up activation at the end of March 2026, removing approximately 80 bags of waste from the river system.
Community leadership representatives joined the initiative, reinforcing the importance of collective responsibility in protecting water resources and improving environmental conditions in vulnerable urban areas.
Students also engaged with eco-activist Zoe Prinsloo from Save a Fishie, who shared practical experience from community clean-up campaigns, providing insight into how grassroots initiatives can create lasting environmental impact.
According to Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, the City’s grant funding programme aims to support community-led initiatives that protect essential water and sanitation infrastructure while strengthening environmental stewardship.
Through the Water Warriors Programme, CPUT equips students with environmental education skills that can be transferred into extracurricular activities in primary and high schools. These initiatives promote responsible water use, conservation awareness and community participation in protecting natural resources.
The programme also incorporates edutainment elements including dance, drama and quizzes to encourage ongoing engagement among young learners, helping to embed environmental awareness into everyday community life.
The project demonstrates how partnerships between municipalities, academic institutions and communities can deliver practical solutions to pollution challenges affecting urban waterways.
