GEORGE NEWS - In Waboomskraal and Herold just outside of George, South African Breweries (SAB) partnered with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF-SA) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in 2016 to eradicate invasive plant species and ensure water security for the local communities and the farmers these communities depend on.

Today, these efforts have saved an estimated nine billion litres of water per year.

For more than five years, Rozanne Steyn at RS Environmental Consulting has been on the front line of this offensive. She says these efforts not only provide people with food security by protecting the farmers, but also ensure that water resources are used effectively and are being preserved. 

"Water is life for our people and for the beautiful indigenous nature that surrounds us. We need to do everything we can to protect it."

Steyn says invasive plant species consume much more water than indigenous plants and not only impact the farms, but also communities around Waboomskraal and Herold catchments. 

Steyn's dream is to finally clear the river systems in the Waboomskraal and Herold areas, so that the people downriver, especially in drought-riddled areas like the Karoo, can be freed from the burden of water insecurity.

"We have been working with various stakeholders in the area to ensure that our work never stops. It is going to take many years, so consistent commitment is required from our partners," she says.

Her efforts can be sustained thanks to the WWF-SA and SAB.

Why SAB? Known as hops valley, the South Western Cape region is currently the only region on the continent that is suitable for growing the water-intensive crop hops, a vital ingredient in the process of brewing beer. By protecting the water security of the area, SAB can continue providing much-needed business for the farmers in the area and strive towards its goal of measurably improving water availability and quality in high water risk areas by 2025.

With support from WWF-SA and SAB, Rozanne Steyn is working to conserve precious water in the Waboomskraal and Herold areas by eradicating alien vegetation.

Local communities

As a local community member, Steyn believes in taking care of the local communities. This project not only saves water resources, but it also provides jobs and training for locals. "Thanks to WWF-SA and SAB, we are able to help alleviate poverty in the area, which in return will help us tackle many socioeconomic problems in the area," she says.

Thanks to her success on the ground, and by literally fixing the problem at its root, Steyn has recently secured an additional R350 000 in funding from the brewer. This will enable her to train more community members, including a specialised high altitude team, and bolster her ranks on the ground.

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