Green warrior with
WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO PROTECT KZN’S BIODIVERSITY ARE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE ‘CLEANING UP’ THEIR PROVINCE. CHATS TO SOME OF THEM
LIZ CLARKE
FROM childhood, Simon Maphumulo had an affinity with the environment, believing that one day he would be able to protect the living creatures and plants in and around the area where he lived.
That place was Kwaximba, an area near Cato Ridge where families struggling to keep body and soul together in the face of often extreme hardship had little time to worry about the environment or the effects of longterm pollution.
While it was an ambitious and farreaching mission for a young child to protect and clean up the streams and rivers that flowed haphazardly through the bushy regions near his home, he didn’t let go of his dream to one day become a green warrior.
“In the early days when the Duzi canoeists came through our area, the rivers were clogged with weeds and rubbish, but today we manage to keep the river in fairly good condition. It could be better, but that is where awareness and education are important.”
Today there’s little doubt he has kept his childhood promise not only to himself, but to the community of Kwaximba.
“It is not easy,” says this 30-yearold. “Not easy at all. When I say to people don’t litter, don’t throw rubbish into the rivers because it is like hurting a friend, they laugh and think I am talking nonsense.
“But I carry on trying because it is the right thing to do. When I speak to schoolchildren and show them the terrible things that happen when you don’t look after the environment, they listen. They are beginning to ask questions and that is good.”
Maphumulo has taken his love of nature and the environment several steps forward by partnering with the Kloof and Drummond conservancies, among the most vibrant and effective protection agencies in the province, and adopting business strategies that will support his long-term ideals.
“It has been the answer to a prayer,” he says, stepping out of a truck which bears his eye-catching branding, Msenge Environmental Landscapes, suggesting that he has been able to combine his plant knowledge with a business arm.
“It was important to try to make a living, so that I could employ a small team to help me.”
One of his ongoing projects is a contract to remove alien and invasive vegetation from Field’s Hill.
“Even the smallest invasive plant doesn’t escape me,” he says with a grin. “It is so important not to let one get away, because before you know it, there will be hundreds more.
“These plants that shouldn’t live here are not good for the environment because they strangle other natural vegetation, which is the real home for insects and birds.”
His environmental work extends to Giba Gorge further along the M13 Outer West route. Here the focus, he explains, is on ensuring good fire protection.
He is particularly proud, though, of the initiatives that have taken place in his own community.
“We decided to start the greening process with our own Nomfihlela Primary School, with a special day set aside for the kids to identify and remove alien plants. As part of the project, indigenous trees were planted at the school entrance and they helped make a proper garden.
“It made such a difference. We wanted to see how the community responded and they are now supporting our efforts a lot more.”
Kloof Conservancy responded to this appeal with enthusiasm as the project is seen as part of its outreach commitment to spread its “green footprint” beyond the boundaries of Kloof.
Since then a number of fundraising trail runs have been organised in conjunction with the Kloof and Drummond conservancies.
“It makes me happy,” says Maphumulo, “to see so much effort going into this community.”
lizclarke4@gmail.com
Cleaning up the environment is in the best interests of everyone, so looking for business opportunities to achieve this is the best way forward.
Backing from the community is essential. It’s no good telling people what to do, because in most cases they won’t do it. It’s much better to create events and initiatives that will benefit the community and encourage partnerships
The Kwaximba Conservancy was established in 2013 and is committed to the protection of the biodiversity of the Kwaximba area, which includes the umzindusi and Mgeni rivers near Cato Ridge.
A priority for the conservancy is to identify projects that can benefit the community so that the residents and the environment can be winners. One of the aims is to give Kwaximba