The Eerste/ Kuils River Catchment Management Forum (EKR CMF) was established formally after the meeting of the 26th March 2025.
The City’s water and sanitation department said the forum will promote community-driven initiatives, aimed at improving the condition of polluted rivers and their surrounding environment.
Because the Eerste River flows largely outside of the City’s boundaries, entering the city in its lower reaches where it joins its major tributary -the Kuils River, it passes through many suburbs including Macassar, Sandvlei, Kuils River, Brackenfell, Driftsands, Faure, Forest Village, Mfuleni, Blue Downs, Rotterdam, Wesbank, Kalkfontein, Brackenfell and Durbanville.
Some of the sources of pollution are informal settlements, runoff from vehicle wash areas as well farming activities, treated effluent from Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), sewer spills, polluted effluent from surrounding industries/factories, sewer pump station failures and solid waste.
Multiple stakeholders make up the forum, including business, industrial/agricultural, civil society, scientists and community members, to find solutions to reduce urban pollution ending up in rivers, canals and waterbodies.
The next meeting is important because office bearers will be elected, including the chairperson, vice chairperson and the secretariat.
Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, said “the establishment of this forum marks a significant step forward in our strategic commitment towards improving inland water quality through community engagement. We are setting up these fora in various catchments as a platform for various stakeholders to tackle the pollution of our waterways by working collaboratively.”
Date and time of next Forum meeting: Thursday, 15 May 2025, at 17:00 Venue: Kuils River Council Chambers, Kuils River Municipal Building, Corner of Carinus and Van Riebeeck Road, Kuils River.
Picture: Community stakeholders participating in the discussion at the Eerste/Kuils River CMF inaugural meeting.