Canal nets stops pollution entering Zandvlei Estuary, Western Cape

David Bristow, 66 lives in the picturesque Western Cape suburb of Marina Da Gama, which is situated on the banks of the Zandvlei Estuary.

He is the Chairman of Zandvlei Trust which works to protect the water bodies in and around the estuary.

He is concerned about the waste problems for environmental reasons.

According to Bristow, waste and carbon emissions are forms of pollution which cause climate change.

"Plastic making its way into the vlei breaks down into micro plastics and nano plastics. 

It gets into the food chain which affects everyone." He said.

A system of nets have been installed in the Sand River Canal which flows through Marina Da Gama and empties into the Zandvlei Estuary. 

These nets trap the litter as the water flows through the canal.

A team of workers clean the nets and remove the litter on a weekly basis.

"We catching most of it (the rubbish)" Bristow said.

"I'm hoping in ten years' time I can sit back in my armchair and say, we won, finally, we have cleaned up our rivers," Bristow said. Video Tracey Adams/African News Agency (ANA)