After a rigorous evaluation of 39 applications submitted in December 2025, the City awarded funding to 22 community organisations. The projects were selected based on their individual merits, including: their ability to address water pollution in priority hotspot areas, involvement of local residents in planned activities and clear implementation plans to measure impact over the next five months.
This second round of funding more than doubles the number of organisations supported since the launch of the programme in 2024/25. This year, a stronger focus was placed on practical, short-term interventions that can be implemented between February and June 2026.
The successful projects aim to:
• Increase the number of community clean ups in polluted waterways city-wide
• address societal behaviours leading to sewer blockages, vandalism and misuse
• increase the number of community members trained as river wardens
• upskill local artisans to address water leaks and support water conservation
• strengthen active citizenry through community-led education and awareness workshops
‘By supporting our second cohort of community-led projects, we are investing in innovative, locally driven solutions that encourage active citizenry and deliver measurable improvements to river health and water and sanitation management across Cape Town. These partnerships are essential to building a more water-resilient city for current and future generations,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroedien.
The successful organisations are:
1. Mosselbank River Conservation Team: focusing on conservation and rehabilitation of a key tributary of the Mosselbank River in the Fisantekraal and Greenville areas near Durbanville.
2. Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) Trust: working in the Kuils River catchment, with Mfuleni residents to involve them in a river clean up and workshop where a mini- Participatory Action Research Process (PAR) will be undertaken
3. The Litterboom Project: co-funding maintenance and clearing of waste interceptors in several high-priority catchments and re-directing waste from landfill by recycling.
4. Lokshin Pioneers: focusing on the Borcherds Quarry precinct in parts of Nyanga and Gugulethu by organising a clean-up and awareness campaign at the Gugulethu Canal, where illegal dumping is prevalent near the NY5 and Lotus informal settlements
5. Amphiarts Becreative SA: delivering education and awareness initiatives in Sarepta, Kuils River.
6. Rethink the Stink: promote its #BinItDontFlushIt campaign, to protect rivers, oceans, and ecosystems by encouraging the public to bin, not flush, harmful products
7. Save a Fishie: rolling out its School Eco Challenge and awareness campaign including 50 schools across the City
8. Abahlobo Ekuhlaleni NPO: working in Langa, where litter-clogged drains and poor waste management contribute to flooding and sewer blockages.
9. People's Environmental Planning Educational Trust (PEP): focusing its work in Khayelitsha to train flood resilience officers who will produce maps of where vulnerable structures are built in areas prone to flooding, and invite affected residents to educational workshops ahead of winter rain
10. Unnati Training Academy: will focus on communities around the Lower Salt River and work to identify alternatives to illegal dumping in waterways through co-design workshops and lead two clean ups in affected areas of the catchment
11. Bantubanye Community Development: focusing on the Makhaza community and training local volunteers to become water monitors who help report water leaks, broken taps and blocked toilets.
12. Manjiya Economic Development Solutions NPC: working in Kraaifontein, Bloekombos, Wallacedene, Eerste River, Scottsdene and Mfuleni to create dialogue through workshops about water conservation; and establish recycling programmes at local schools
13. Angels of Hope: delivering education and awareness activities in Kuils River and Bloekombos.
14. Greater Tygerberg Partnership: restoring the Elsieskraal River within Elizabeth Park.
15. Making a Change: focusing on the chronically polluted Soet River and the Sir Lowry’s Pass catchment.
16. Friends of Hout Bay Rivers: working across rivers and wetlands in the Hout Bay area, including the Hout Bay Wetland and surrounding streams.
17. Awehness: focusing on the Big and Little Lotus Rivers in Ottery, Grassy Park, Lotus River, Pelikan Park and Zeekoevlei.
18. The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA): focusing on training unemployed youth as Water Stewards
19.WESSA Southern Suburbs Branch: working in the Kuils and Eerste River catchment to establish water-wise gardens and create an environmental learning manual to support long term water conservation and behavioural change
20. Oasis Reach for Your Dreams: active in engaging the homeless and marginalised youth in improving public recreational areas, rivers, parks and beaches in and around the Helderberg and Strand area, including the Soet River.
21. Light of Life Theatre Organisation: focusing its work in educating residents in Wallacedene about fixing water leaks and raising awareness about the challenges with building informal structures above sewer lines and around water infrastructure/ wetlands
22. Princess Vlei Forum: supporting conservation across Greater and Little Princess Vlei, Sand River and the Zeekoevlei catchment.
Speaking at the event, Zoë Prinsloo from Save a Fishie highlighted the importance of City support. ‘The City’s backing gives organisations the confidence to grow. It allows us to plan long term, invest in better equipment and educational materials, strengthen our outreach, reach more communities and make a lasting impact. Most importantly, the City’s support turns responsibility into real partnership.
