UTHANDO LWEMILAMBO – FOR THE LOVE OF RIVERS
Rivers show us who we really are
They show us how we’re connected to the earth and to each other
RIVER RESCUE
Our Values
OUR VISION
Our vision is to restore the local rivers to what they once were: places where people collected clean water for washing, cooking and drinking; children played in the water, catching fish and crabs; older people sat on the banks and found peace and rest listening to the gentle sound of water.
OUR MISSION
River Rescue works to clean the rivers in the city of Makhanda/Grahamstown and to restore them as sources of clean water and recreation for ALL the residents of the city
Our aim is to restore the link between our rivers and our people
What we do
Our Programmes
CHANGING MINDSETS
Rivers are complex systems, and rivers that run through built-up areas are even more complex. To make a lasting difference we must change people’s hearts and minds and awaken them to their real attachment to the water on which everything depends.
EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT
Education through schools, clubs, churches, house-to-house surveys and presentations is the focus of our activities, together with the continuing hard work of cleaning the rivers two Saturdays a month.
WhO WE are
Our Story
Get Involved
Many hands make light work! Join us on one of our upcoming clean up days listed here.
Or sign up for our newsletter and we will let you know about our events in the future.
Let’s work together for plastic free rivers.
Upcoming Events
AUGUST 10
Where: Mary Waters River (Location link)
When: 9.00
Please don’t forget to bring your:
💧 Water
👒 Hat/Cap
☀ Sunscreen
🧤 Gloves
🥾 Boots
😷 Mask
➕ As well as any additional items you think may be useful for the clean-up effort.
For anyone needing transport to the location, please meet us at the arch at 08h45. Please circulate to anyone you think will be interested 🙏
SUPPORT OUR CAUSE
Make A Donation
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions in Makhanda’s river systems. Your generous donation will fund our projects.
When clicking the button below, you will be redirected to our PayFast Cause Index page where you can make a secure online donation towards the work we do.
OUR STORIES
Sharing Knowledge
There’s a lot of attention focused on indigenous knowledge, on finding it, on accessing it, and on using it to expand what I call our ‘formal, school-based’ knowledge.
We were cleaning the river at Vukani with the usual wonderful mix of local children, local citizens and Rhodes students when a little boy (I’ll call him Sizwe) ran up to me, caught me by the hand, walked me to the bush pictured below and pointed to the grey leaves.
Back to Take Down the Flag in the Wind
On the 10th of August 2024, the Rhodes University (RU) Honours Students from the Department of Environmental Science (DES) organised a successful clean-up in Mary Waters, Makhanda. The main objective being to remove rubbish in and around the river and promote environmental stewardship in the Mary Waters Community.