Community Clean-up Initiative

26/06/2026

Before you reach for the spade, here is why not to kill snakes. 🐍

Many people are afraid of snakes, a belief that is often passed down through generations and is rooted in fear, not fact. We often receive complaints about people killing or harming snakes. We believe that snakes deserve as much compassion and respect as any other animal.

🐭Snakes control damage-causing animals like rats and mice.
🚫Most snakes are harmless and avoid humans.
🌱Snakes are an important part of the environment and biodiversity.
⚖️Harming or torturing snakes is cruelty, and you can be prosecuted.

If you see a snake, keep your distance and stay calm. Please do not kill or hurt it. If it is necessary to relocate the snake, please contact your local SPCA for guidance on a trusted snake handler and accredited facility. If the snake is not posing harm, please allow it to move away on its own.

26/06/2026

On Wednesday 1 July, we’re making a world record attempt for “The Most People Refusing Single-Use Plastic in One Day” – and we want you to be part of it.

To help us make history, all you have to do is:
♻️ Choose one single-use plastic to avoid (such as disposable cups or plastic bags)
♻️ On July 1, make a Plastic Free Pledge on our website - plasticfreejuly.org/pledge
♻️ Get your friends, family, and community together to make a Pledge together
Remember, to make sure it counts towards our world record attempt, you need to make your Pledge specifically on July 1.

Join in and let’s make plastic pollution history, together.

26/06/2026

26/06/2026

If you walk around Velddrif today and notice it's a little cleaner, you have loyal litter clean-up fundi and environment management specialist Lauren Matthews to thank!

Every last Thursday of the month, we go out to clean Laaiplek beach front, but yesterday, Lauren decided to tackle the streets of Velddrif!
While we picked up a disturbing load of litter from the beach, she singlehandedly collected two full bags of litter from the sidewalk!

Well done Lauren!

Join us every last Thursday of the month just after 17:00 as we slowly make a difference, one bag at a time.

Velddrif Tourism Bergrivier Municipality

19/06/2026

17/06/2026

12/06/2026

09/06/2026

Often described as the blue lung of the Earth, the ocean quietly sustains life far beyond our shorelines.

Microscopic marine organisms, including phytoplankton, generate around 50% of the oxygen we need. The ocean also absorbs approximately 30% of human-generated carbon dioxide emissions and captures around 90% of the excess heat caused by these emissions, helping to regulate our climate. (Source: National Ocean Service - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-oxygen.html)

But the ocean cannot continue to carry this burden alone.

Through WESSA’s Coastal Programmes, we recognise that caring for our coastlines, reducing pollution and protecting marine ecosystems are essential to safeguarding the natural systems that sustain us all.

This World Oceans Day, let us move from being beneficiaries of the ocean to becoming guardians of its future.

Aligned with the official 2026 World Oceans Day theme set out by the United Nations, “Reimagine”, let’s see the ocean as part of everyday life rather than something distant.