January 2026
Deloitte’s annual Jukskei River clean-up
For the second year running, staff from Deloitte’s Waterfall City head office stepped out from behind their desks and onto the riverbanks to dedicate their annual Volunteer Day to a critical environmental cause: a clean-up of the Jukskei River near Buccleuch. Facilitated by Waterfall City Management Company (WCMC), this initiative not only tackled visible pollution but also served as a vital learning experience, deeply aligning with Waterfall City’s core sustainability principles and fostering a powerful sense of community spirit.
Building on a successful initiative in 2024, Deloitte returned to this section of the Jukskei, in June 2025 with amplified commitment. The operation saw an increase in scale, boasting improved logistics, on-site catering for the dedicated volunteers, and a sharpened focus on both waste removal and the challenging management of invasive plant species. The turnout was impressive, with around 100 Deloitte employees rolling up their sleeves – from recent graduates to Senior Directors – including the Managing Director, Gregory Rammego, of the Risk Advisory business.
“Seeing first-hand the types of waste that collect in this important water source and hearing directly from various experts in the sustainability field during this clean-up event, provided our staff with an important opportunity to better understand the negative impacts of waste to water bodies, and how invasive species can add to the broader challenge,” stated Rovika Poole, Volunteer Day Lead for Deloitte Risk Advisory. “It was also great to step out of the boardroom and into the community, where environmental degradation met human impact head-on.”
While the cleanup took place in Buccleuch, on the outskirts of Waterfall City, its significance resonates deeply with the interconnectedness of ecosystems. The effort underscores the crucial need to prevent litter and waste from negatively impacting downstream communities and the broader environment. The Jukskei, like many South African rivers, faces immense pressure from urban waste, illegal dumping, and the unchecked spread of invasive vegetation. This volunteer day, therefore, played a crucial role in public education and awareness, a vital step, even if the root causes require more extensive, long-term solutions involving multiple stakeholders.
Action and efforts
The Deloitte volunteers, armed with gloves and spades, meticulously collected a total of 222 bags of rubbish, ranging from everyday litter to illegally dumped waste products and silted debris, amounting to 20 cubic metres of waste weighing around two tons, all of which was responsibly removed.
Equally important was the concerted effort to clear a host of alien and invasive plants along the riverbank, where white poplar and giant reeds were by far the most prevalent. These intruders detract from what is already a very degraded system, and their removal and responsible disposal, in partnership with Life Green Group for composting, is a crucial step towards potential future eradication.
The success of the day was amplified by key collaborations. Like last year, Mark McClue, the CEO and co-founder of ARMOUR (Action for Responsible Management of OUR Rivers) provided ‘A Voice 4 Water’, sharing essential knowledge on river systems, the causes and effects of pollution and their cooperative stance on water remediation being an interface between civil society and the institutions accountable for responsible management of water resources. McClue thanked Plastics SA for their sponsorship of the recycled bags and Deloitte for this opportunity, noting “initiatives like this go beyond the benefits of the one-day volunteering, as the staff can take this awareness and experience into their personal lives and see how their services assist clients in relevant Environment, Social and Governance spaces.”
Kyle Odgers from Kleenhealth gave insight to ‘Nanobubbles’ as an example of a nature-based approach using technology to address pollution by restoring water resilience. As a demonstration, he undertook water quality tests with the volunteering team, introducing them to iLab field kits. Arranged by ARMOUR from WaterCAN, these kits are designed for non-scientific field operatives to do a basic screening of water quality, to support in illustrating the problem of contaminated water. The results showed high levels of E.Coli, phosphates and chlorine, indicating a result of private sector wastewater running into the storm water system, from for example pools, washing cars and industry or from leaks within JHB water infrastructure. These results have been uploaded to the regional database to assist tracking and lobbying to address the issues.
Members of The Alex Water Warriors also joined in the day as part of the community-led programme founded with ARMOUR, to enable a replicable grassroots initiative from Alexandra to provide invaluable local knowledge, as well as enthusiastic on-the-ground experience. As a leading example of awareness and behavioural change in becoming better stewards of how we manage waste as a society, McClue and Mpho from The Alex Water Warriors, explained how there are now over 2,500 water warriors operating three times a week in 15 areas through the river system upstream in Alexandra. This includes a recycling station established as part of processing over 3 million kilograms of consumable waste towards sustainable change from within the community.
KMB Environmental expertly managed site access, as well as all logistics and preparations for the overall clean-up, while the ever-reliable Phambili Services ensured responsible post-event waste disposal and processing, according to environmental compliance – something that is unfortunately not a regular practice in this polluted river system.
Furthermore, One Juice, a health juice business based in Waterfall City, sponsored delicious juices on the day, which were certainly a hit among the hard-working volunteers. One Juice is also passionate about sustainability and is committed to reducing its carbon footprint through initiatives like recyclable packaging, sourcing locally to cut down on transport emissions, and minimising waste in the production processes.
For WCMC, facilitating this initiative goes to the heart of its development philosophy. “Waterfall City incorporates sustainable principles as part of our Vision,” explained Ruan Spies, Environmental Manager at WCMC. Spies emphasised the importance of such hands-on initiatives, stating, “Awareness is a good place to start. Without continued action for change and systematic improvement, clean-ups alone will not hold the line. Whilst events like this shine a light on the scale of the larger problem, it also makes it evident that long-term solutions through collective will, policy and persistence are required to effect the change that everyone wants to see and deserves: an environment which is not harmful to our health or well-being. This clean-up event with Deloitte was a great way to provide many people with immediate experience regarding the nature and scale of litter, sewage pollution and invasive plant species in this waterway. We hope it sparks conversations and inspires those who attended to share their learnings with others and to promote sustainable initiatives and ventures aimed at making a lasting impact.”
This direct engagement is fundamental to Waterfall City’s sustainability cornerstones, which integrate environmental stewardship, community well-being, and education. By supporting events like this, WCMC not only contributes to the immediate betterment of the environment but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for ecological challenges among a wider audience. This practical education on waste, its management, and its impact is invaluable.
A ripple effect
Beyond the visible transformation of the riverbank, the day reignited a shared sense of responsibility and stewardship. For many Deloitte volunteers, it was an opportunity to connect with nature, grasp the scale of environmental issues first-hand, and actively contribute to cleaning up this water source. This aligns perfectly with Deloitte’s global World-Class initiative #PurposeBeyondProfit to make an impact that matters, which aims to empower 100 million lives through education and skills-building, grounding this mission in tangible local action.
The Jukskei River cleanup was more than just a day of removing rubbish; it was a vibrant demonstration of community spirit and corporate responsibility in action. It served as a potent reminder that environmental impact can extend far beyond office walls, driven by collective effort and the willingness to get one’s hands dirty while striving for a healthier, cleaner future.
