Hennops Revival is an organisation that sprung from the vision to revive, heal and restore the Hennops River. We initiated this initiative to address the vacuum in institutional arrangements for the Gauteng rivers. Since 2019, we have encouraged more people across Gauteng and Northwest to actively participate in their wishes for a cleaner environment by helping municipalities to improve water quality in the two provinces.

The Hennops River is one of the most polluted rivers in South Africa, stretching 94km across three metropolitan areas and flowing into the Crocodile River. Afterwards, it becomes the Limpopo River and flows into Xai-Xai Bay on Mozambique's coast. The Hennops is a large catchment and the largest river in Gauteng, with extensive floodplains and wetlands.

As a result of an incomplete waste management plan in South Africa, part of the river's reality includes poverty, limited-service delivery, and poor understanding of the value of the environment. Waterways are being used to discard waste, and the environment is being turned into wastelands.

Coupled with poverty and unemployment - albeit with an entrepreneurial spirit - informal recycling has directly impacted river pollution. Despite becoming a source of income for many impoverished communities, the lack of structure means that recyclables are often washed near water sources. The government does not provide recycling facilities, and communities often have minimal or no sanitation. As a result, manholes overflow, finding their way to the river.

Illegal dumping and industrial pollution are discharged into rivers and streams into stormwater systems. There are minor consequences for industrial non-compliance due to enforcement issues and apathy.

These characteristics mean that the Hennops is a critical wildlife corridor, potentially home to many natural amenities. Sadly, the Hennops river is heavily polluted, affecting the environment of many towns and cities in the province. In Kempton Park, Tembisa and Centurion, communities have been directly affected by floods, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.