In early summer, the Blue Deal Theewaterskloof team carried out a working visit to Grabouw, South Africa, aimed at supporting sustainable solutions in water management, education, and waste processing. The visit was marked by strong collaboration with local partners, focusing on knowledge exchange, relationship building, and practical steps to address shared challenges.
Collaboration in action
One of the key outcomes of the visit was the initiation of a water-focused education programme with local schools in Grabouw. This programme aims to raise awareness among youth about water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Pictured: Blue Deal representatives with local school children in Grabouw
Youth engagement through sport
Another effort focused on the younger generation took place in an informal settlement, also in Grabouw. A football match served as a creative platform to engage young people in conversations about waste, reuse, and clean water. This blend of sport, education, and community building proved to be a powerful tool for outreach and awareness.
Pictured: A football match sparked conversations with young people about waste, re-use and clean water
In parallel, discussions with the Grabouw Water Users Association explored ways to better structure and manage local waste streams. These conversations yielded valuable insights and laid the groundwork for future follow-ups. A knowledge exchange session with WWF South Africa highlighted the critical link between water safety and nature conservation, reinforcing the importance of integrated approaches to environmental management.
The team also observed impactful Citizen Science efforts led by BOCMA, including the involvement of Young Expert (YEP) Jordaan Asefi and two community members in the South African Scoring System (SASS) river health assessments. A Clear River Campaign hands-on clean-up at a tributary of the Palmiet River with Deputy Minister Seitlholo was another noted highlight. These activities are helping to build local capacity and foster community ownership of water resources.
More Blue Deal South Africa news: The Theewaterskloof Blue Deal project is just one of the South Africa Blue Deal projects, and there is much more progress to be shared! For an overview of news from the Msunduzi-uMneni project, Blesbokspruit or Vredefort Dome projects, see the most recent Blue Deal South Africa newsletter.