On Friday, 12 September 2025 , the Western Cape Government Hosted their 10th Annual Service Excellence Awards at Grand West Casino.
“The Service Excellence Awards (SEA) is an annual intervention within the Western Cape Government (WCG) which promotes a people centric culture, entrenches professionalism, as well as recognises and rewards excellence. The purpose is to entrench the Western Cape Government value of caring by appreciating and recognising employees in exemplary cases. The awards this year further explores a WCG recognition system, that extends to WCG residents and provincial municipalities for encouragement of service excellence.”
The Mosselbank River Conservation Team (MRCT) was one of the 5 organisation shortlisted for the Best Resident Performance Team/Project and received Gold at the Awards.
(Left to right) Victoria Jansen, Christopher Jackson, Elizabeth Maans, Danielle Cronje proudly showcasing their Gold Award for Best Resident Performance for a Team/Project
“This Category recognises a Team of Residents working on a project in the Community, in providing a service aimed at the betterment/improving resident’s lives. The Team must display characteristics of commitment to cohesion and cooperating or complimenting one another.”
In 2016, shortly after moving into the Greenville Garden City Breaking New Ground housing development, Maans witnessed the severe impact of pollution on the river. Determined to take action, she gathered a few residents to carry out clean-ups. Their grassroots efforts soon caught the attention of Garden Cities NPC (RF), who had a mandate to rehabilitate the wetlands. Garden Cities NPC (RF) approached Maans to help mobilize the community, leading to the formation of the Mosselbank River Conservation Team (MRCT).
The initiative began in 2017 with just five volunteers and support from Garden Cities NPC (RF). Their focus was to address environmental issues directly linked to the wetlands, including water quality, littering, and invasive plant species. By 2021, the group had grown to 14 members and registered officially as a Non-Profit Company Non-Profit Organization. Today the group has 26 registered members who help plan and coordinate the environmental event and community clean-ups in Greenville, Fisantekraal.
SEA Gold Certificate
Mission and Vision
The MRCT’s mission centers on education, conservation, participation, and connection. Its vision is to ensure the wellbeing of both the local community and the environment through sustained education and conservation efforts.
Objectives
- Restore the Eastern Tributary of the Mosselbank River and valley-bottom wetlands to benefit Greenville and Fisantekraal communities.
- Maintain a clean and healthy river system.
- Strengthen environmental education through partnerships with schools, churches, conservation organizations, and media. (61 Environmental Events hosted)
- Collaborate with other groups working in conservation and education.
Key Activities
The MRCT plays an active role in monitoring and maintaining the river. Their work includes:
- Reporting pollution and fire incidents.
- Monitoring river health using MiniSASS and field water testing kits.
- Carrying out litter clean-ups (Approximately 12 000 kg removed since 2019)
- Clearing alien and invasive vegetation.
- Vegetation surveys.
- Revegetation and erosion control.
(Bronwyn Cruz): Team photo of the members of the Mosselbank River Conservation Team
From a small team of volunteers to a registered non-profit, the Mosselbank River Conservation Team has grown into a vital force for environmental protection in the area—demonstrating the power of community action in tackling ecological challenges.
