A remarkable neighborhood rejuvenation is taking place along a key waterway in Johannesburg. Sculptures crafted entirely from trash now adorn the banks of the Jukskei River. This river is currently undergoing a significant rehabilitation program.
A collective of local creators, known as the Alexandra River Collective, produced these distinctive artworks.
They used waste materials pulled directly from the river, which runs through the Alexandra community. The recovered materials included bricks, old tires, rocks, and large tree trunks.
Collaboration and Creativity from Rubble
Sipho Gwala, an artist who was born and grew up in Alexandra, frequently visits the river. He specifically gathers rubble for use in his sculptures. Gwala draws inspiration from the crabs he remembers seeing in the waterway during his youth.
He detailed his creation method. He uses discarded bricks and construction waste to form his crab sculptures. Gwala noted the problem posed by persistent illegal dumping. Many residents renovating their homes throw cement and bricks onto the riverbanks.
Gwala views his art as a collaboration with nature. He explained, “So, I liked the concept of working with the river. It was a collaboration.” He concluded, “Taking the brick that’s eroded by the river, and then making a sculpture with it, as you can see.”
Fighting Flooding and Environmental Decline
The Jukskei River faces severe environmental threats. Illegal dumping, extensive pollution, and invasive non-native plant species all regularly contribute to the degradation and destructive flooding.
The SUNCASA project actively involves local organizations. Their goal is to improve the river area and reduce flooding risks.
Chanel Pather, SUNCASA Programme Manager, outlined the initiative’s objectives. SUNCASA aims to deploy nature-based methods.
These methods mitigate effects like the urban heat island effect and address river flooding. Pather highlighted the necessity of river rehabilitation and urban greening.
Pather explained that urban greening helps reduce the intense heat experienced by Johannesburg. She noted that their partnership with the Alexandra Water Warriors focuses heavily on debris management.
This process allows the river’s flow to run more safely. They aim to prevent people from being swept away by daily removing pollutants and large obstructions.
Volunteers Find Therapy in Art
The Alexandra Water Warriors, a massive volunteer force, has committed over 3,000 members to cleaning the Jukskei River since 2019. SUNCASA supports the Warriors, providing training and salaries as one of its five local partners.
Paul Maluleke, co-founder of the Water Warriors, noted that the cleanup effort provides raw materials for the sculptures. They ensure the river flows freely. When large tree logs pose a challenge to the water flow, they choose to repurpose them for art installations.
Phumzile Sizakele, a multidisciplinary artist in the Collective, works primarily with tree trunks hauled from the Jukskei.
These large pieces of wood often contribute to destructive flooding by blocking the river’s path. Sizakele helped construct wooden bird sculptures inspired by the hadedas common in the area.
Sizakele finds the artistic labor cathartic. “As I was carving, I actually realised that it’s sort of like therapy for me,” she explained. “Imagine, I’m coming from home, I’m having a stressed day and whatever, and I’m here by the wood, and I’m allowed to hit as hard as I want, and chop it, and damage it, and then create something nice out of it.”
Local youth activist Harry Nakeng praised the neighborhood’s transformation. He commended the community for removing waste and creating beautiful park art. He noted, “So in the afternoon you’ll find a lot of kids playing here, enjoying this area. So it’s just amazing that the park is open,” he said.
