Reclaiming the Jukskei: A Community-Driven Transformation
The Jukskei River, which flows through the heart of Johannesburg’s Alexandra Township, has long been the backbone of the community. Yet, years of neglect, urban sprawl, and unchecked pollution have transformed this once-thriving waterway into a symbol of environmental degradation and social inequality. But a new initiative, Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA), is working to change that narrative.
Led by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), SUNCASA is a multi-year project aimed at building climate resilience in high-flood-risk areas across three major African cities – Johannesburg, Dire Dawa, and Kigali. In Johannesburg, the focus is on the Jukskei River, where nature-based solutions (NbS) are being employed to address the complex challenges facing the surrounding communities.
“The situation calls for urgent, collective action to restore the environment and protect our community from these escalating dangers,” says Semadi Manganye, a local resident and co-founder of the Alexandra Water Warriors, a community group deeply involved in the SUNCASA initiative.
Integrating Nature into the Urban Fabric
Alexandra Township, established in 1912 to house 750,000 residents, is now home to over 1.2 million people – a population explosion that has placed immense pressure on the local environment. The Jukskei River, once a vital source of water and recreation, has become a dumping ground for trash and a breeding ground for waterborne diseases.
To tackle this crisis, SUNCASA is taking a holistic, nature-based approach that aims to not only restore the river’s health but also transform the surrounding urban landscape. By integrating more green spaces, revitalizing riverbanks, and removing invasive species, the project is working to enhance biodiversity, mitigate flood risks, and reduce the urban heat island effect.
“Developing and maintaining green spaces in townships in Johannesburg (and South Africa more broadly) has long been a challenge,” explains Eden Takele, the Director of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities in Africa. “Townships have a high degree of population density, poor infrastructure, and limited access to public services, in part due to Apartheid-era planning, which has made integrating and accessing green infrastructure more difficult for residents of historically underserved neighborhoods.”
SUNCASA is addressing this challenge by working closely with local communities, the City of Johannesburg, and other key partners to identify and implement context-specific NbS that can benefit the residents of Alexandra. These include:
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Expanding Urban Tree Cover: Through extensive community consultations, the project is planting trees near low-income households and in public spaces to increase shade, improve air quality, and enhance the overall livability of the neighborhood.
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Riverbank Rehabilitation: The project is removing invasive species from the Jukskei River catchment and restoring vulnerable riverbanks with indigenous vegetation. This not only improves the river’s ecological health but also helps to stabilize the banks, reducing the risk of flooding.
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Stormwater Management: Strategically placed green infrastructure, such as bioswales and permeable surfaces, is being integrated into the urban landscape to capture and filter stormwater, reducing the burden on the overtaxed drainage system and mitigating flood risks.
By combining these nature-based interventions, SUNCASA aims to create a more resilient and livable community in Alexandra, one that can better withstand the impacts of climate change while also providing much-needed green spaces for residents to enjoy.
Centering Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
At the heart of the SUNCASA project is a commitment to gender equality and social inclusion. Recognizing that women and marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by climate-related risks, the project has made a concerted effort to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed.
“Ignoring gender equality and social inclusion can perpetuate existing biases and inequities in access, rights, and opportunities for local communities,” says Takele. “SUNCASA aims to center the needs of vulnerable groups in all its activities by creating opportunities for women and under-represented groups to participate in planning, implementing, and monitoring nature-based solutions.”
One way the project is achieving this is by working with community-based organizations, such as GenderCC, to strengthen the capacity of marginalized groups to engage in decision-making processes. This ensures that their perspectives and priorities are reflected in the design and implementation of the NbS interventions.
Additionally, the project is working closely with the City of Johannesburg to integrate gender-responsive approaches into its long-term climate adaptation and natural resource management strategies. This includes providing training programs to local partners and authorities on how to effectively incorporate gender considerations into their planning and decision-making.
“By centering the needs of women and marginalized groups, SUNCASA is not only building climate resilience but also advancing social equity and empowering communities to be active stewards of their local environment,” explains Takele.
Fostering Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Recognizing that addressing complex urban challenges like those faced by the Jukskei River communities requires a collaborative approach, SUNCASA is actively engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, from local residents to municipal authorities and international partners.
“SUNCASA is working with the City of Johannesburg and other local partners – including the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership (JICP), Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), Water for the Future (WFTF) Zutari and GenderCC – to introduce more nature into the overcrowded Alexandra Township,” explains Takele.
This multi-stakeholder engagement not only ensures that the project’s interventions are tailored to the community’s needs but also fosters a sense of ownership and investment among local residents. By empowering community members to participate in the planning and implementation process, SUNCASA is helping to build a more sustainable and resilient future for the Jukskei River and its surrounding neighborhoods.
In addition to local partnerships, SUNCASA is also leveraging its connections with the Cities4Forests initiative and the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities to facilitate knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning among cities facing similar challenges. This global network of urban centers striving to conserve, manage, and restore forests and natural landscapes can provide valuable insights and best practices that can be adapted to the Johannesburg context.
Scaling Impact and Securing Sustainable Financing
As SUNCASA continues to make progress in Johannesburg, the project’s team is already looking to the future, exploring ways to scale up its impact and ensure the long-term sustainability of its interventions.
One key focus area is working with the City of Johannesburg to integrate nature-based solutions into its broader climate adaptation and urban development strategies. By aligning the project’s objectives with the city’s long-term priorities, SUNCASA can help ensure that the benefits of its interventions are sustained and amplified beyond the project’s lifetime.
To further bolster the project’s impact and scalability, the SUNCASA team is also exploring innovative financing mechanisms, such as green bonds, climate adaptation funds, and payment for ecosystem services schemes. By tapping into these emerging sources of climate finance, the project can unlock the necessary resources to expand its reach and deepen its impact in the Jukskei River watershed and beyond.
“SUNCASA is a multi-year initiative that aims to benefit people living in high-flood-risk areas across three major African cities,” says Takele. “Through $22 million in funding from Global Affairs Canada, the project is making significant strides in Johannesburg, Dire Dawa, and Kigali, demonstrating the power of nature-based solutions to build climate resilience and promote social equity.”
As the world grapples with the mounting challenges of urbanization and climate change, the lessons learned from the SUNCASA project in Johannesburg can serve as a blueprint for other cities seeking to revitalize their waterways, green their urban landscapes, and empower marginalized communities to lead the way towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
Conclusion: A Vision for a Thriving Jukskei River Ecosystem
The transformation of the Jukskei River and the surrounding Alexandra Township is not just about restoring the physical environment; it’s about reclaiming the social and cultural fabric of the community. By integrating nature-based solutions that address both environmental and societal challenges, the SUNCASA project is paving the way for a more resilient, equitable, and livable future for the residents of Johannesburg.
As the project continues to unfold, the Joint Action for Water blog will be there to chronicle the progress, share the lessons learned, and inspire other communities around the world to follow in the footsteps of the Alexandra Water Warriors and their partners. Together, we can create a world where every river, every neighborhood, and every community can thrive, thanks to the power of nature-based solutions.
