Molopo River Audit

Using the MK Ten Step Methodology young people from local villages and Stadt Primary School visited the river and looked at the following three questions:

What did they like"

What they did not like?

What did they want to change?

The MKGP team visited the local library and found old photos of the river with men fishing in it. It was wide and there was lots of vegetation. They found a photo of lots of women walking to the river with clay pots. They knew that the women could drink the water. They cannot drink it now. They say it is polluted. The children from Stadt drew their dreams for the river and the MK Team presented their findings to the local chiefs.

Clean Up the River - Clean Up Your Act

In 2007 MKGP South Africa audited the Molopo River, in North West Province as part of their training program. The kids were concerned about pollution, weed infestation and rubbish accumulating in their river. They met with local woman at the river who washed there regularly. They met local chiefs and local school children and the decided to run a program Clean Up the River - Clean Up Your Act.

They brainstormed what they could do to help ther river and decided on a Clean Up Day with soccer, good food and a HIV education program.

In July 2009 Catrina, Kate and Tonia from MK Australia will help the kids make a film about their river and will take it back to Australia to share with local school children.

Quotes from South African Department of Water and Environment

"Of the estimated 9000 plants introduced to this country, 198 are currently classified as being invasive. It is estimated that these plants cover about 10% of the country and the problem is growing at an exponential rate."

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) pose a direct threat not only to South Africa’s biological diversity, but also to water security, the ecological functioning of natural systems and the productive use of land. They intensify the impact of fires and floods and increase soil erosion.