Kwazakhele pond focus of workshops

WHAT is green and spongy and good for people?

That would be wetlands – and they have been the focus at a series of Pond 6 Kwazakhele workshops leading up to World Water Day yesterday.

The workshops are run by the Zwartkops Conservancy with R33 000 of funding channelled through the Cape Town branch of the international “local government for sustainability” group, Iclei.

Pond 6 is a natural pan near Port Elizabeth’s old power station.

It is closely linked to the Swartkops River and, in heavy rain, the injection of stormwater causes it to overflow into the estuary.

The aim is to include it in the proposed Ramsar World Heritage Site for the Swartkops.

The pond was polluted but boasted rich birdlife, including flamingos, and had huge potential for tourism and as a community resource, conservancy spokeswoman Jenny Rump said yesterday.

The pond contained a wetland reed bed and for the area to achieve its potential as a community resource, this vlei needed to be understood and protected, she said.

“Over half of South Africa’s wetlands have been destroyed, but they have many values directly for humans as well as ecologically.

“For instance, because they are like a sponge, they suck up water, helping to prevent floods during heavy storms and gradually releasing water during drought.

“They also purify water and provide a nutrient-rich environment for all kinds of wildlife that, in turn, controls pests like mosquitos and supports tourism.”

From the pond, the lessons move to the classroom, where the conservancy’s Motherwell Buy-Back Centre team teach pupils how to turn waste into saleable crafts.

“One of the problems fouling up our wetlands is litter, so we’re trying to get these kids out of the habit of just chucking their litter down and instead disposing of it properly or using it to make some extra money,” Rump said.